17,250 HKD
“Night Sky” James McCabe, Royal Exchange, London, No. 7738. Hallmarked for London, 1812. Fine 18K yellow gold and champlevé enamel pocket watch. Four-body, reeded bezel and reeded band, hinged back with a glazed cover over a dark blue guilloche andchampleve enamel panel with gold flower and star decoration. Gold with polished radial Arabic numerals on amatted chapter ring, guilloche center. Blued steel "spade" hands. 37 mm., gilt, full plate, turned pillars, fuséewith chain, cylinder escapement, three-arm steel balance, pierced and engraved English balance cock, diamondendstone.Movement signed and numbered, case numbered.Diam. 47 mm. Notes McCabe. This long-lived firm, reputed for fine watches and clocks, was founded by James McCabe, a son of Irish watch- and clockmaker William McCabe in Ireland, who moved to London in the late18th century. Although McCabe used a wide variety of escapements, he is particularly associated with the improvement of the duplex. On his death in 1811 he was Senior Warden of the Company. He was succeeded by his son, also James MacCabe.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2005-07-10
