Beschreibung:

A fine William III gilt brass verge pocket watch movement Thomas Tompion London, number 2893 circa 1699 The gilt full plate single fusee verge movement with four Egyptian pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and sprung three-arm steel balance with reeded rim, the backplate with fine scroll-bordered symmetrical foliate scroll pierced and engraved balance cock with part of the circumference recessed to reveal the decorated balance rim opposite the conforming pierced broad foot flanked by silvered regulation disc with adjacent applied scroll pierced infill opposing signature T. Tompion, LONDON and indistinct engraved serial number 2893, the pillar-plate stamped with repeat serial number behind the hour wheel, fitted with pierced brass dial-plate with fine herringbone engraved border, the pillar-plate 39mm (1.5ins) diameter. Thomas Tompion has often been referred to as the 'father of English clock and watchmaking'. When considering the legacy of his work and influence on subsequent generations, such a compliment is justly deserved. Born in Ickwell, Suffolk in 1639 Thomas Tompion appears to have developed an affinity for metalworking from his father, also named Thomas, who worked as a blacksmith. By 1670 Tompion had moved to London and was working in the clock and watchmaking trade. Although there is no record of his apprenticeship or whether he received any formal training prior to moving to London, he quickly became established and obtained his freedom of the Clockmaker's Company in late 1671. His early clocks demonstrate a close working relationship with the Fromanteel, East and Knibb workshops. Around this time Tompion became friendly with eminent mathematicians and scientists such as Robert Hooke and Jonas Moore - perhaps the most progressive and inventive minds of the day. Such associations lead to Royal commissions, firstly from Charles II for whom Tompion is known to have made one of the earliest balance-spring watches in 1676 and later William III who ordered numerous clocks to furnish his various palaces throughout his reign. As well as being an extremely talented artisan Tompion was also commercially minded, cleverly introducing serial numbering for his watches and clocks from around 1681/2. This, as well as maintaining a high degree of refinement in both the design and construction of his clocks and watches, ensured the highest level of exclusivity for clients purchasing from him. In around 1701 Thomas Tompion took a former apprentice, Edward Banger, into partnership. Banger was originally apprenticed to Thomas Ashby in 1687 but was transferred over to Tompion and gained his freedom of the Clockmaker's Company in 1695. He was clearly a talented maker (when considering the few examples signed by Banger alone) however a serious problem between him and his former master caused the partnership to come to an abrupt end in 1707-8 for reasons unknown. On Banger's departure Tompion reverted to working alone until he found confidence in George Graham who had been engaged as a journeyman for Tompion since 1696. Graham's character had already been given the seal of approval by Tompion who allowed him to marry his niece, Elizabeth, in 1704; however it still would be a few years before Tompion would take Graham into partnership which he eventually did in 1711. Thomas Tompion died in November 1713 leaving the business to George Graham who maintained the same exacting standards and became famous in his own right with notable achievements including the development of the deadbeat escapement for pendulum clocks and the cylinder escapement for watches. The current lot is one of around two hundred and ninety examples signed by Tompion alone from circa four hundred known surviving timepiece watches from Tompion's first numbered series as recorded by Jeremy Evans and can be broadly compared with number 2635 which is illustrated in Evans, Carter & Wright THOMAS TOMPION 300 YEARS page 259 (which shares the sa