Three gilt brass verge pocket watch movements Various makers, mid to late 18th century Each gilt full plate single fusee verge movement with square section baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and silvered regulation disc, the first with foliate scroll pierced and chased balance bridge inscribed W'm Best, London, 1270 to a banner incorporated within the fretwork and with fine conforming overlaid decoration covering most of the backplate (lacking dial) the pillar plate 35mm (1.375ins) diameter; the second also with scroll pierced balance bridge and conforming applied fretwork decoration to backplate bearing signature Demelais, London to margin (lacking dial) the pillar plate 41mm (1.675ins) diameter; the third lacking balance, bridge and staff but with fine applied pierced and chased scrollwork around the regulation disc and signed WILLEM BRAMER IVNIOR ZWOL to margin, fitted with fine silver champleve dial (lacking hands) with calendar aperture to the recessed centre repeat signed W. BRAMER, IVNIOR, ZWOL and finely decorated in relief with two classical females holding aloft a crown over the letter G within Roman numeral chapter ring with lozenge half hour markers, arcaded minute track and Arabic five minute cartouches to outer track (lacking hands), the pillar plate 41mm (1.65ins) diameter, (3). Provenance: The beneficiaries of the Estate of an Italian connoisseur collector of horological artefacts and works of art. The first watch in this group resembles Dutch work however the position of the regulation disc (to the right of the winding square when viewed with bridge uppermost) may indicate that the movement may possibly be English but made in the Continental style. William Best appears not to be recorded in the usual sources however a Thomas Best is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as a fine maker working in London specialising in making watches for the Dutch market. The second watch is typical of Dutch copies made during the second half of the 18th century and can be compared to an example sold in these rooms Tuesday 15th September 2015 as part of lot 94. The third movement is a fine albeit incomplete Dutch example with particularly attractive champleve dial.
Three gilt brass verge pocket watch movements Various makers, mid to late 18th century Each gilt full plate single fusee verge movement with square section baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and silvered regulation disc, the first with foliate scroll pierced and chased balance bridge inscribed W'm Best, London, 1270 to a banner incorporated within the fretwork and with fine conforming overlaid decoration covering most of the backplate (lacking dial) the pillar plate 35mm (1.375ins) diameter; the second also with scroll pierced balance bridge and conforming applied fretwork decoration to backplate bearing signature Demelais, London to margin (lacking dial) the pillar plate 41mm (1.675ins) diameter; the third lacking balance, bridge and staff but with fine applied pierced and chased scrollwork around the regulation disc and signed WILLEM BRAMER IVNIOR ZWOL to margin, fitted with fine silver champleve dial (lacking hands) with calendar aperture to the recessed centre repeat signed W. BRAMER, IVNIOR, ZWOL and finely decorated in relief with two classical females holding aloft a crown over the letter G within Roman numeral chapter ring with lozenge half hour markers, arcaded minute track and Arabic five minute cartouches to outer track (lacking hands), the pillar plate 41mm (1.65ins) diameter, (3). Provenance: The beneficiaries of the Estate of an Italian connoisseur collector of horological artefacts and works of art. The first watch in this group resembles Dutch work however the position of the regulation disc (to the right of the winding square when viewed with bridge uppermost) may indicate that the movement may possibly be English but made in the Continental style. William Best appears not to be recorded in the usual sources however a Thomas Best is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as a fine maker working in London specialising in making watches for the Dutch market. The second watch is typical of Dutch copies made during the second half of the 18th century and can be compared to an example sold in these rooms Tuesday 15th September 2015 as part of lot 94. The third movement is a fine albeit incomplete Dutch example with particularly attractive champleve dial.
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