James Stratton
Director
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Lot 85
A fine and rare mid 18th century travelling alarm timepiece with silent escapement, in the original mahogany travel case Vigne, London
16 December 2015, 14:00 GMT
London, New Bond StreetSold for £7,500 inc. premium
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A fine and rare mid 18th century travelling alarm timepiece with silent escapement, in the original mahogany travel case
Vigne, London
The 7 inch shallow arched one-piece silvered dial signed above the Roman and Arabic chapter, with matching blued steel hands and central alarm setting dial, the single gut fusee movement with four adjustable brass feet, twin rear spikes and a hanging hook, secured to the screwed-on top plate over protective sliding internal doors, the plates united by four heavy knopped pillars, the silent escapement with gut pallets acting on an anchor-type 'scape wheel, with T-bar pendulum, but sounding the alarm on a double-ended steel hammer to the bell mounted above (the bell cast with the makers mark I*D), the movement backplate repeat signed 'Vigne, London'.
Contained within the original mahogany travelling case, mounted with a pair of reeded handles to the sides, the front door and upper lid both hinged and lockable (keys now absent) with shaped glazed front door and solid rear door to access the alarm barrel. 23cms (9ins) high, the outer case 28.5 (11ins) high.
The 7 inch shallow arched one-piece silvered dial signed above the Roman and Arabic chapter, with matching blued steel hands and central alarm setting dial, the single gut fusee movement with four adjustable brass feet, twin rear spikes and a hanging hook, secured to the screwed-on top plate over protective sliding internal doors, the plates united by four heavy knopped pillars, the silent escapement with gut pallets acting on an anchor-type 'scape wheel, with T-bar pendulum, but sounding the alarm on a double-ended steel hammer to the bell mounted above (the bell cast with the makers mark I*D), the movement backplate repeat signed 'Vigne, London'.
Contained within the original mahogany travelling case, mounted with a pair of reeded handles to the sides, the front door and upper lid both hinged and lockable (keys now absent) with shaped glazed front door and solid rear door to access the alarm barrel. 23cms (9ins) high, the outer case 28.5 (11ins) high.
Footnotes
A Ferdinando Vigne is listed as working in Charing Cross from about 1750, he died in 1763. A Francis Vigne is also listed as working before 1764, and is probably the same man.
The one piece silvered shallow arch dial is typical of the third quarter of the 18th century. With its spring driven movement, silent escapement, alarm and protective, lockable case this clock could be seen as the ultimate travelling companion.