W HOULLGATTE at Ipswich
One of the earliest recorded English made pocket watches in complete and undamaged condition, circa 1615.
£18,500.00
Gilt metal oval case with finely engraved silver band showing a bird within foliage on each side, the case retaining its original pendant and bottom finial, the rear cover also retaining its original rotating winding shutter. Fullplate movement with three-wheel train and four vase-shaped pillars, a fusee with gut line that has never been altered to accept a chain, and the blued-steel set-up with a nicely pierced and engraved cock matching the pinned-on balance-cock. The boldly engraved signature on the top plate has also not suffered the usual problems caused by bushes poorly fitted to the pivot holes and hammer marks to the counter-potance rivet. Verge (recoil) escapement with steel balance. The brass dial beautifully engraved and retaining its fire-gilding, the chapter ring with touch pieces at the hours, around which are engraved an angel’s or cherub’s head at the top, under which is a bird and a serpents head (salamander?) set within foliage, with a devil’s or wolf’s head below, the nicely sculpted single hand giving no reason to think it other than original. 65 mm x 35 mm.
William Houllgatte/Houllgatt, recorded as working in Ipswich at the beginning of the 17th century, dying sometime between 1637 and 1644. This is one of just three watches by Houllgatte known to me. One was in the Samuel Tonkin collection sold at Sothebys in 1967, the other being in the Victoria & Albert Museum (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112695/watch-houllgatt-w/). The V&A example is similar in all respects, other than the case has a silver lid and bottom, and the subjects engraved on the dial are different.
NB: Few English made watches that are over 400 years old exist, most of which are in Museum collections. Of those remaining in private hands, hardly any are in such original condition as this. That said, the gilding has mostly gone from the case cover and back, but thankfully no one has later tried to embellish the plain covers by adding engraving or re-gilding. This watch remains a very fine and honest example of the period – a time when James 1st was on the throne, when Shakespeare was still writing, and when Sir Walter Raleigh was to meet his end, in 1618, at Whitehall.
Sold from the Djanogly collection at Sothebys in 2015, this watch was almost certainly the example previously offered by Sothebys in 1964 and later at Christies in 1966. It is also featured in The English Watch 1586-1970 by T Camerer Cuss. NB: This is an increasingly rare chance to own such a fine example, and it was photographed prior to any servicing by me. This will be included if required by the new owner, the watch of course being accompanied by my usual guarantee.
Item reserved
Description
Gilt metal oval case with finely engraved silver band showing a bird within foliage on each side, the case retaining its original pendant and bottom finial, the rear cover also retaining its original rotating winding shutter. Fullplate movement with three-wheel train and four vase-shaped pillars, a fusee with gut line that has never been altered to accept a chain, and the blued-steel set-up with a nicely pierced and engraved cock matching the pinned-on balance-cock. The boldly engraved signature on the top plate has also not suffered the usual problems caused by bushes poorly fitted to the pivot holes and hammer marks to the counter-potance rivet. Verge (recoil) escapement with steel balance. The brass dial beautifully engraved and retaining its fire-gilding, the chapter ring with touch pieces at the hours, around which are engraved an angel’s or cherub’s head at the top, under which is a bird and a serpents head (salamander?) set within foliage, with a devil’s or wolf’s head below, the nicely sculpted single hand giving no reason to think it other than original. 65 mm x 35 mm.
William Houllgatte/Houllgatt, recorded as working in Ipswich at the beginning of the 17th century, dying sometime between 1637 and 1644. This is one of just three watches by Houllgatte known to me. One was in the Samuel Tonkin collection sold at Sothebys in 1967, the other being in the Victoria & Albert Museum (https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O112695/watch-houllgatt-w/). The V&A example is similar in all respects, other than the case has a silver lid and bottom, and the subjects engraved on the dial are different.
NB: Few English made watches that are over 400 years old exist, most of which are in Museum collections. Of those remaining in private hands, hardly any are in such original condition as this. That said, the gilding has mostly gone from the case cover and back, but thankfully no one has later tried to embellish the plain covers by adding engraving or re-gilding. This watch remains a very fine and honest example of the period – a time when James 1st was on the throne, when Shakespeare was still writing, and when Sir Walter Raleigh was to meet his end, in 1618, at Whitehall.
Sold from the Djanogly collection at Sothebys in 2015, this watch was almost certainly the example previously offered by Sothebys in 1964 and later at Christies in 1966. It is also featured in The English Watch 1586-1970 by T Camerer Cuss. NB: This is an increasingly rare chance to own such a fine example, and it was photographed prior to any servicing by me. This will be included if required by the new owner, the watch of course being accompanied by my usual guarantee.