Jonathan Puller

Jonathan Puller, London, probably made for the Indian Market, circa 1685. Very rare and fine 22K gold pai r-cased early balance spring watch. Outer two body of finely worked gold wire filigree floral patterns enhanced with small gold studs. Inner double body, bassine, polished with split bezel. Gold champleve with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring. Arrow pattern blued steel hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with pierced tulip pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, shot early flat balance spring. Signed on the back plate. Diam. 48 mm. Notes Provenance: Formerly in the Stemberger Collection, subsequently in the Courtney Ilbert Collection and sold by Sotheby's, London, 20 October 1963, Lot 70. Exhibited: The Heritage Exhibition, London, 1952, cat. No. 277. International Art Treasures Exhibition, London, 1962, cat No. 402, p. 50. Jonathan Puller, London, born circa 1662, died circa 1707. Apprentice in August 1676 to Nicholas Coxeter and later to John Miller. Assistant to the Court of the Clockmakers ' Company in 1701. English watches in filigree cases were usually made for the Indian Market. They are particularly rare, and this example is of much larger diameter than usual regardless of origin. It is also an early use of the balance spring, and it is notable that the English were generally quicker to apply a minute hand to such watches than their counterparts on the continent.