103rd Auction

2020/11/7

Lot 139

John Roger Arnold, London, Inv.t et Fecit, Movement No. 2045, Case No. 2045, 58 mm, 187 g, circa 1808
An English pocket chronometer with spring detent escapement
Case: silver, case maker's punch mark "FT" (Frederick Thoms), London hallmark for 1891. Dial: enamel. Movm.: full plate movement, Arnold's spring detent escapement, Z balance with 2 weights and 2 screws, blued helical balance spring, very finely engraved balance cock.
John Roger Arnold (1769-1843) was the son of renowned British horologist John Arnold. He began his apprenticeship with A.-L. Breguet in Paris in 1792. The younger Arnold became a member of the Clockmaker's Company in 1796 and was a Master in 1817. He took up a partnership with E.J. Dent in 1830 and the two craftsmen experimented heavily during their work together; in particular they concentrated on the effects of magnetism on chronometers. Dent left Arnold in 1840, whereupon Arnold continued working on his own but died only three years later. Charles Frodsham bought the business after Arnold’s death in February 1843 and it flourished until 1858 under the name Arnold and Frodsham.
Chronometers made by John Arnold and his son John Roger Arnold were valued very highly and usually in use for decades. The watch at hand is an excellent example of this; the movement was fitted into a new, tailor-made case made by Frederick Thoms, who was most likely the most famous casemaker in his time. On the same occasion, the movement was updated with a new dial and a new set of hands.

estimated
6.5008.500 €
Price realized
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