Henry Crumpe

Henry Crumpe, London, made for the Dutch market, circa 1675. Exceptionally fine and rare silver pair-cased pre balance spring, single-hand watch with date. Outer: two-body, green leather-covered, silver studs forming floral and foliate design, inner: two-body, "bassine", polished, split bezel, loose ring pendant. Silver, radial Roman numerals on heart-shaped cartouches, inner quarter-hour ring, blued steel ring with a pointer outside the hour chapter pointing to the date ring set outermost. Single blued steel "poker" hand. 37 mm., gilt metal, full plate, elaborately pierced "lyre" pillars, fusee and gut, verge escapement, circular steel foiot, pierced and engraved symmetrical cock secured by a screw, worm-gear mainspring set-up.Signed on the back plate.Diam. 50 mm. Notes The watch is exceptionally well finished; the pillars are made in a lyre shape and pierced, the contrate wheel (the one driving the escape wheel) is also pierced, the arbors are turned with a decorative pattern. A watch with a similar dial and an exceptional movement signed Steven Tracy, Rotterdam, was in the Lord Sandberg Collection (Antiquorum, Geneva, March 31, 2001, lot 189).Henry CrumpeWas a member of the Clockmakers' Company from 1667 to 1688.