Lot 52

French, Royal Exchange London, Movement No. 3232, 195 x 220 x 195 mm, circa 1840
A large ship's chronometer of the British Royal Navy with 8 days power reserve
Case: mahogany, brass inlays. Dial: enamel. Movm.: brass movement, chain/fusee, spring detent escapement according to Thomas Earnshaw, bimetallic chronometer balance with 2 screws and 2 weights.
Santiago James Moore French is repeatedly mentioned in Tony Mercer‘s "Chronometer Makers of the World"; Mercer lists him as one of the pioneers in the history of precision timekeeping, along with eminent makers such as Arnold, Earnshaw, Dent and Frodsham. Moore French worked from 1811 until at least 1865 at different locations in London such as Cornhill, Sweetings Alley and the Royal Exchange. The movement of his chronometer no. 3232 is extremely high (50 mm); the round escapement plate sits at around 25 mm. The dial has a sunk second of polished silver and the large chronometer box is lavishly decorated with three inlaid ivory plaques and brass marquetry.