David Lestourgeon, London
Fine verge watch by this interesting Huguenot maker, circa 1700.
£3,495.00
Silver pair case in lovely condition, the inner with split-bezel, revolving shutter over the key hole and loose-ring pendant, the outer with concave sight ring to the front bezel, both cases carrying the small cameo stamp RB (Richard Blundell, Coleman St, London). Nicely engraved fullplate fusee movement with the early style of tulip pillars, the wide footed cock with a cherub’s face. Verge (recoil) escapement. Steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Lovely two-piece silver dial, the centre nicely chased and signed LETVRGEON, complete with what are likely to be the original beetle and poker blued-steel hands fitted to a centre arbor that has never been filed short. 55.5 mm diameter.
David Lestourgeon, believed to be from Rouen and probably the watchmaker who was admitted to the Clockmakers’ Company in 1698. Baillie shows him as having moved from Rouen to London in 1681. His son, also David, was a watchmaker known to have been working to around 1750.
Due to religious persecution, many protestant watchmakers working in the strictly Catholic parts of France moved to countries that allowed them entry. London in particular benefitted from this influx of highly skilled craftsmen and women, as did Geneva and other areas of Switzerland. These Huguenots, as they are now generally known, also settled in many other parts of Europe and the New World.
The cases and dial in unusually fine and original condition, the movement showing some of the expected signs of use and repair. Fitted with an unscratched new/old stock high dome glass, serviced and guaranteed.
Item available
Description
Silver pair case in lovely condition, the inner with split-bezel, revolving shutter over the key hole and loose-ring pendant, the outer with concave sight ring to the front bezel, both cases carrying the small cameo stamp RB (Richard Blundell, Coleman St, London). Nicely engraved fullplate fusee movement with the early style of tulip pillars, the wide footed cock with a cherub’s face. Verge (recoil) escapement. Steel balance, spiral balance-spring. Lovely two-piece silver dial, the centre nicely chased and signed LETVRGEON, complete with what are likely to be the original beetle and poker blued-steel hands fitted to a centre arbor that has never been filed short. 55.5 mm diameter.
David Lestourgeon, believed to be from Rouen and probably the watchmaker who was admitted to the Clockmakers’ Company in 1698. Baillie shows him as having moved from Rouen to London in 1681. His son, also David, was a watchmaker known to have been working to around 1750.
Due to religious persecution, many protestant watchmakers working in the strictly Catholic parts of France moved to countries that allowed them entry. London in particular benefitted from this influx of highly skilled craftsmen and women, as did Geneva and other areas of Switzerland. These Huguenots, as they are now generally known, also settled in many other parts of Europe and the New World.
The cases and dial in unusually fine and original condition, the movement showing some of the expected signs of use and repair. Fitted with an unscratched new/old stock high dome glass, serviced and guaranteed.
