Justin VULLIAMY, London. Code cma
Rare English painted enamel watch in lovely condition by this most prestigious Royal Watchmaker, circa 1765.
£7,495.00
22ct gold engraved and enamelled single case, the rear showing a version of ‘Leda and the Swan,’ no date letter and a casemakers stamp that is rubbed. Front wind fullplate fusee movement with typical beautiful piercing and engraving of the cock and slide plate, as favoured by this maker. Cylinder escapement retaining the Graham-type banking. Best quality ‘Venetian’ enamel dial of distinctive Vulliamy design (note the dots), enamelled on gold, with gold winding hole collet, in perfect original condition. Gold beetle & poker hands. 44.5 mm diameter
Justin Vulliamy and son Benjamin, Clockmakers to King George III and the Prince Regent, later George IV, suppliers of best quality clocks and watches to the English aristocracy, the new Houses of Parliament as well as many London clubs and institutions. Justin, formerly in partnership with Benjamin Gray, made some of the best watches of the period, of which this is a fine example – my pictures do not do it justice.
NB: The best enamel dials of the period used Venetian enamel, presumably named from where it was imported. This fired at a higher temperature and needed a gold dial plate because copper would deform at the higher temperature. The enamel was also used thinner than normal and most surviving examples show cracks, particularly those with a case bolt slot at VI. This dial is a rare exception being in perfect condition.
The painted enamel scene is not signed, which is not unusual in English work, and it depicts the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, in which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, rapes Leda, the Spartan Queen. The setting was probably inspired by the famous painting of this topic by Francois Boucher which was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1742. What is certain is that the Vulliamy firm always used the best craftsmen and this enamel may have been done by George Michael Moser or one of his Royal Academy associates.
Most English painted enamels differ from French and Swiss work in as much as they were not covered in a final transparent ‘flux’ layer. It provides a more beautiful finish, at least to my eyes, but is consequently more prone to damage and scratches. Despite this, the enamel has survived well and shows only minor scratches and one small local restoration. Otherwise the complete watch is in fine original condition showing few signs of wear – just how the dial survived intact, being subject to such close contact with a winding key for what was probably many years, is nothing short of miraculous. Serviced and guaranteed.
Item available
Description
22ct gold engraved and enamelled single case, the rear showing a version of ‘Leda and the Swan,’ no date letter and a casemakers stamp that is rubbed. Front wind fullplate fusee movement with typical beautiful piercing and engraving of the cock and slide plate, as favoured by this maker. Cylinder escapement retaining the Graham-type banking. Best quality ‘Venetian’ enamel dial of distinctive Vulliamy design (note the dots), enamelled on gold, with gold winding hole collet, in perfect original condition. Gold beetle & poker hands. 44.5 mm diameter
Justin Vulliamy and son Benjamin, Clockmakers to King George III and the Prince Regent, later George IV, suppliers of best quality clocks and watches to the English aristocracy, the new Houses of Parliament as well as many London clubs and institutions. Justin, formerly in partnership with Benjamin Gray, made some of the best watches of the period, of which this is a fine example – my pictures do not do it justice.
NB: The best enamel dials of the period used Venetian enamel, presumably named from where it was imported. This fired at a higher temperature and needed a gold dial plate because copper would deform at the higher temperature. The enamel was also used thinner than normal and most surviving examples show cracks, particularly those with a case bolt slot at VI. This dial is a rare exception being in perfect condition.
The painted enamel scene is not signed, which is not unusual in English work, and it depicts the Greek myth of Leda and the Swan, in which the god Zeus, in the form of a swan, rapes Leda, the Spartan Queen. The setting was probably inspired by the famous painting of this topic by Francois Boucher which was first exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1742. What is certain is that the Vulliamy firm always used the best craftsmen and this enamel may have been done by George Michael Moser or one of his Royal Academy associates.
Most English painted enamels differ from French and Swiss work in as much as they were not covered in a final transparent ‘flux’ layer. It provides a more beautiful finish, at least to my eyes, but is consequently more prone to damage and scratches. Despite this, the enamel has survived well and shows only minor scratches and one small local restoration. Otherwise the complete watch is in fine original condition showing few signs of wear – just how the dial survived intact, being subject to such close contact with a winding key for what was probably many years, is nothing short of miraculous. Serviced and guaranteed.