Justice Vulliamy

Justice Vulliamy, London, No. "ouo", hallmarked 1784.Very fine 22K gold, pair-cased dumb half quarter-repeating watch with ruby cylinder escapement. Outer: two-body, back cover centered by a letter "F" under a crown within an engraved frame, bezels engraved with scrolls. Inner: two body, polished, gilt brass dust cap. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers. Gold "spade" hands. Notes VulliamyThree 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 and decorative clocks.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 clockmaker to George II, and the Vulliamy family held the office of clockmaker to the reigning sovereign until the death of Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy in 1854.Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, the son of Justin, was much favored and consulted by George III on mechanical subjects, especially in connection with Kew Observatory, which was a hobby of the King. Born in 1780, Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy, of 68 Pall Mall, was noted for the exactness and excellent finish of his work, in both clocks and watches. He took an act Read more…