261 - George Graham - Quarter Repeater

George Graham - Quarter Repeater A very fine London pair-cased pocket watch with a cylinder escapement and quarter repeater Movement No. 771, Dimensions 48 mm, circa 1750/1777, Weight 142 g, Origin: England Case: Outer case—18K gold, smooth, case maker’s punch mark “AN,” hallmark 1777. Inner case—18K gold, openwork sides, lavishly decorated with volutes and acanthus scrolls; two cartouches featuring an engraved mascaron and a geometric pattern; engraved flower on the reverse, rear bell, movement protection cap. Dial: Enamel. Movement: Full-plate movement, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, three-arm steel balance. George Graham (1673–1751) began his apprenticeship with Henry Aske in 1688, with whom he remained even after being admitted to the Freedom of the Clockmakers’ Company. From 1695 to 1711, Graham worked for Thomas Tompion; Graham and Tompion then became partners, and after Tompion’s death, Graham continued the business on London’s Fleet Street as his successor. One of England’s most eminent clockmakers, Graham was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1721, a Member of the Council in 1722, and eventually became Master of the Clockmakers’ Company. His greatest achievements were the deadbeat escapement in 1715, the mercury pendulum in 1726, and, in 1725, his improvements to the cylinder escapement, which gave it its present form. Case: very good, with one dent. Dial: very good. Movement: good, in need of restoration, capable of running.