Attributed to Vulliamy

Attributed to Vulliamy, retailed by Rundell & Bridge, London, No. 3454, bearing Louis Philippe's coat of arms, with London hallmarks for 1802.Very fine 18K gold hunting-cased watch of Royal provenance with special escapement. Four-body, solid, "Consular" with integral dome, polished, marked "I.M." (presumably Jonah Mince), the cover with the engraved coat-of-arms of the Duc de Chartres. Notes Provenance: family of the Duchess of Neumours. This watch is engraved with the coat-of-arms of the Duc de Chartres, who was to become King of France under the name of Louis Philippe I. It must have been purchased during his exile in England from 1801 to 1807. It was sold by Rundell and Bridge who were goldsmiths of the King of England. Although signed by these eminent retailers, its high quality and technical features such as ruby duplex escapement and compensation curb, strongly suggest that te movement was made by Vulliamy, then watchmaker to the King.The VulliamysThree successive members of this family were active from 1730 to 1854 and although they are best known for their unsurpassed regulator clocks, they also made some excellent watches.Of Swiss origin, Justin Vulliamy emigrated from Switzerland and settled in London early in the 18th century. He became associated with Benjamin Gray of Pall Mall, whose daughter he married and with whom he was in partnership from 1730 to 1775. Justin Vulliamy carried on the business after Gray's death. Benjamin Gray was appointed as clo Read more…