90th Auction
2014/11/15
Lot 192
Markwick Markham & Borrell, London, Movement No. 24517, 55 mm, 147 g, circa 1815
An exquisite gold enamel verge pocket watch in a triple case, with quarter strike, created for the Ottoman market
Case: outer case - 18k gold and enamel, glass on one side; curled and partly open work outer rim, floral engraving, opaque pink-coloured enamel with white and translucent red and yellow champlevé flowers, curled inner rim with opaque pink-coloured and white enamelling, à goutte, large outer hinge. Intermediate case - 18k gold and enamel, curled and partly open work outer rim, floral engraving, opaque turquoise-coloured enamel with white and translucent red and yellow champlevé flowers; back with curled octagonal enamel medallion with polychrome painting: seascape with storm-battered sailing ships and a stranded ship, in the background a city before a red sky; à goutte, large outer hinge. Inner case - 18k gold and enamel, open work rim, opaque white and translucent red and yellow tendrils and flowers. Back with central medallion with very fine opaque polychrome miniature painting in a translucent red enamel frame: bouquet of summer flowers on an engine-turned translucent pink ground. Bezel with curling translucent red enamel border, enamelled pendant and neck. Rear bell. Dial: enamel, radial Ottoman numerals, gold "Poker & Beetle" hands. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, firegilt, signed, chain/fusee, second barrel for self strike, 2 hammers, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, very finely florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
James Markwick & Markwick Markham
James Markwick and his son James were both fine watchmakers and worked in London. The elder was apprenticed on 25 June 1656 to Richard Taylor, and subsequently to Edward Gilpin. He became free of the Clockmakers' Company on 6 August 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded the business of Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange. Although he held office in the Clockmakers' Company, he was irregular in attendance, ceasing to tend to its affairs after 1700. He worked until at least 1706. His son, James Markwick Jr., became free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony. The younger James Markwick was an eminent maker, Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1720 and a very early user of jeweled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham, who succeeded him using the trading name of Markwick Markham, which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Not only did this notoriety encourage the appearance of spuriously signed watches, but at the end of the century Markham, or his successor, associated the names of other watchmakers with their own products intended for the East. The makers thus found associated are: Francis Perigal, Peter Upjohn, H. Story, Borrell, John Johnson, Louis Recordon, Dupont. All were reputable watch-makers in their own right, selling other products under their own names.
An exquisite gold enamel verge pocket watch in a triple case, with quarter strike, created for the Ottoman market
Case: outer case - 18k gold and enamel, glass on one side; curled and partly open work outer rim, floral engraving, opaque pink-coloured enamel with white and translucent red and yellow champlevé flowers, curled inner rim with opaque pink-coloured and white enamelling, à goutte, large outer hinge. Intermediate case - 18k gold and enamel, curled and partly open work outer rim, floral engraving, opaque turquoise-coloured enamel with white and translucent red and yellow champlevé flowers; back with curled octagonal enamel medallion with polychrome painting: seascape with storm-battered sailing ships and a stranded ship, in the background a city before a red sky; à goutte, large outer hinge. Inner case - 18k gold and enamel, open work rim, opaque white and translucent red and yellow tendrils and flowers. Back with central medallion with very fine opaque polychrome miniature painting in a translucent red enamel frame: bouquet of summer flowers on an engine-turned translucent pink ground. Bezel with curling translucent red enamel border, enamelled pendant and neck. Rear bell. Dial: enamel, radial Ottoman numerals, gold "Poker & Beetle" hands. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, firegilt, signed, chain/fusee, second barrel for self strike, 2 hammers, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, very finely florally engraved and pierced balance cock.
James Markwick & Markwick Markham
James Markwick and his son James were both fine watchmakers and worked in London. The elder was apprenticed on 25 June 1656 to Richard Taylor, and subsequently to Edward Gilpin. He became free of the Clockmakers' Company on 6 August 1666. Six apprentices were bound to him between 1674 and 1699. In 1673 he succeeded the business of Samuel Betts behind the Royal Exchange. Although he held office in the Clockmakers' Company, he was irregular in attendance, ceasing to tend to its affairs after 1700. He worked until at least 1706. His son, James Markwick Jr., became free of the Company in 1692 by patrimony. The younger James Markwick was an eminent maker, Master of the Clockmakers' Company in 1720 and a very early user of jeweled bearings. In later years he was in partnership with his son-in-law Robert Markham, who succeeded him using the trading name of Markwick Markham, which became famous for watches destined for the Turkish market. Not only did this notoriety encourage the appearance of spuriously signed watches, but at the end of the century Markham, or his successor, associated the names of other watchmakers with their own products intended for the East. The makers thus found associated are: Francis Perigal, Peter Upjohn, H. Story, Borrell, John Johnson, Louis Recordon, Dupont. All were reputable watch-makers in their own right, selling other products under their own names.
Sold
estimated
80.000—100.000 €
Price realized
84.400 €