Charles Frodsham & Co A large yellow gold open faced minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with one minute tourbillon and 60-minute register, presented to Bishop Henry Codman Potter by John Pierpont Morgan, 1897 and sold in 1898, movement...
Property of the Descendants of Henry Codman Potter, Bishop of New York
Charles Frodsham & Co
A large yellow gold open faced minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with one minute tourbillon and 60-minute register, presented to Bishop Henry Codman Potter by John Pierpont Morgan, 1897 and sold in 1898, movement number 08617
Charles Frodsham & Co 大型黃金三問報時追針計時懷錶，備一分鐘陀飛輪及60分鐘顯示，1897年由 John Pierpont Morgan 贈予 Henry Codman Potter 主教，1898年售出，機芯編號 08617
Dial: white enamel Willis-type, radial Roman numerals, outer ring calibrated for minutes, subsidiary seconds and 60-minute registers (with hairline)
Caliber: first quality gilt three-quarter plate with double roller ratchet-tooth lever escapement and free sprung regulation, Guillaume balance with spiral blued steel balance spring and overcoil, the tourbillon with Nicole Nielsen Type 2 three-arm polished steel tourbillon carriage, the back plate further mounted with polished steel chronograph work, repeating on two polished steel gongs
Case: large "best quality"18k yellow gold case with polished finish, plain cuvette, case back inscribed with presentation inscription 'H.C.P. from J.P.M. October 20th, 1883. October 20th, 1898. General Convention. Washington. DC.', split pusher to the band at 11 o'clock, hallmarked London, 1897, recessed repeating slide, gold olivette
Case number: 08617
Size: 63 mm diameter
Signed: dial and movement signed and numbered by maker, case hallmarked London 1897 and stamped with casemaker's mark HMF for Harrison Mills Frodsham
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Charles Frodsham & Co Ltd. Certificate of Origin dated April 11, 2019
Condition Report:
Case: Case is large and robust overall with light wear, surface scuffs and some patina as consistent with age. Case back is inscribed " H.C.P. from J.P.M. October 20th, 1883 October 20th 1898 General Convention Washington D.C." The case back with light superficial surface scratches and scuffs throughout. Case band with scratches and heavier scuffs from opening and closing between 10 - 12. Interior slide band with a small scratch and normal wear. A very small nick to the bezel closest to the glazing between 8 and 9. Plain cuvette with some surface scratches.
Dial: Dial with hairline from constant seconds counter to near 12 o'clock. A second minor hairline outside of the minute ring between 27-28 and concealed by the bezel. Some oxidation to the outermost perimeters of the sunken subsidiary dials. Some wear and light oxidation to the hands and center arbor.
Movement: Minutes repeating in phase. Split second chronograph operating. The movement is running at time of cataloging, however it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve and may need service at the buyer's discretion. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement.
Catalogue Note:
The present lot is a fine example of the Charles Frodsham/J.P. Morgan Caliber Tourbillon watch. No. 08’617 is one of approximately 25 pieces that were commissioned by John Pierpont Morgan to be given as gifts. The present lot was given to Henry Codman Potter (1834 - 1908), the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, a prolific community leader who helped reinvigorate the Church and played a central role in the cultural transformation of the country.
The full presentation inscription to the outer case back is particularly unusual and differs from most other known Morgan watches. Typically, the cuvette is engraved simply with J.P. Morgan’s initials, the gift recipient, and the year.
The outer case back is inscribed, “H.C.P. from J.P.M., October 20th, 1883. October 20th 1989. General Convention, Washington D.C.”
The first date, October 20th, 1883 was Potter’s consecration date as the Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. He became Bishop of New York in 1897. The second date represents the XXXIX General Convention in Washington D.C, celebrating Bishop Potter’s 15 years of service with the Church. J.P. Morgan himself was a deputy of the General Convention and was a lifelong member and influential leader of the Episcopal Church.
The present lot was a testament to the intimate relationship between Mr. Potter and Mr. Morgan. Personal correspondence between the two gentlemen can be found at the Morgan Library, as well as an invitation addressed to J.P. Morgan to serve as a Pall Bearer for the Bishop's funeral services, dated 1 October, 1908. Facsimile copies of the above mentioned correspondence and invitation are included with the lot. The funeral, which took place on 20 October, was held with more than five hundred clergymen in procession, and all the pall bearers were leading citizens of New York.
Potter was a prolific community leader who became known as "the first citizen of New York," having served to address community growth, poverty, labour and social services, racial reform and more. Potter played an immeasurable role in fundraising and building of the...
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Property of the Descendants of Henry Codman Potter, Bishop of New York
Charles Frodsham & Co
A large yellow gold open faced minute repeating split seconds chronograph watch with one minute tourbillon and 60-minute register, presented to Bishop Henry Codman Potter by John Pierpont Morgan, 1897 and sold in 1898, movement number 08617
Charles Frodsham & Co 大型黃金三問報時追針計時懷錶，備一分鐘陀飛輪及60分鐘顯示，1897年由 John Pierpont Morgan 贈予 Henry Codman Potter 主教，1898年售出，機芯編號 08617
Dial: white enamel Willis-type, radial Roman numerals, outer ring calibrated for minutes, subsidiary seconds and 60-minute registers (with hairline)
Caliber: first quality gilt three-quarter plate with double roller ratchet-tooth lever escapement and free sprung regulation, Guillaume balance with spiral blued steel balance spring and overcoil, the tourbillon with Nicole Nielsen Type 2 three-arm polished steel tourbillon carriage, the back plate further mounted with polished steel chronograph work, repeating on two polished steel gongs
Case: large "best quality"18k yellow gold case with polished finish, plain cuvette, case back inscribed with presentation inscription 'H.C.P. from J.P.M. October 20th, 1883. October 20th, 1898. General Convention. Washington. DC.', split pusher to the band at 11 o'clock, hallmarked London, 1897, recessed repeating slide, gold olivette
Case number: 08617
Size: 63 mm diameter
Signed: dial and movement signed and numbered by maker, case hallmarked London 1897 and stamped with casemaker's mark HMF for Harrison Mills Frodsham
Box: no
Papers: no
Accessories: Charles Frodsham & Co Ltd. Certificate of Origin dated April 11, 2019
Condition Report:
Case: Case is large and robust overall with light wear, surface scuffs and some patina as consistent with age. Case back is inscribed " H.C.P. from J.P.M. October 20th, 1883 October 20th 1898 General Convention Washington D.C." The case back with light superficial surface scratches and scuffs throughout. Case band with scratches and heavier scuffs from opening and closing between 10 - 12. Interior slide band with a small scratch and normal wear. A very small nick to the bezel closest to the glazing between 8 and 9. Plain cuvette with some surface scratches.
Dial: Dial with hairline from constant seconds counter to near 12 o'clock. A second minor hairline outside of the minute ring between 27-28 and concealed by the bezel. Some oxidation to the outermost perimeters of the sunken subsidiary dials. Some wear and light oxidation to the hands and center arbor.
Movement: Minutes repeating in phase. Split second chronograph operating. The movement is running at time of cataloging, however it was not tested for the accuracy of time or duration of the power reserve and may need service at the buyer's discretion. Please note that Sotheby's does not guarantee the future working of the movement.
Catalogue Note:
The present lot is a fine example of the Charles Frodsham/J.P. Morgan Caliber Tourbillon watch. No. 08’617 is one of approximately 25 pieces that were commissioned by John Pierpont Morgan to be given as gifts. The present lot was given to Henry Codman Potter (1834 - 1908), the seventh bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, a prolific community leader who helped reinvigorate the Church and played a central role in the cultural transformation of the country.
The full presentation inscription to the outer case back is particularly unusual and differs from most other known Morgan watches. Typically, the cuvette is engraved simply with J.P. Morgan’s initials, the gift recipient, and the year.
The outer case back is inscribed, “H.C.P. from J.P.M., October 20th, 1883. October 20th 1989. General Convention, Washington D.C.”
The first date, October 20th, 1883 was Potter’s consecration date as the Assistant Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. He became Bishop of New York in 1897. The second date represents the XXXIX General Convention in Washington D.C, celebrating Bishop Potter’s 15 years of service with the Church. J.P. Morgan himself was a deputy of the General Convention and was a lifelong member and influential leader of the Episcopal Church.
The present lot was a testament to the intimate relationship between Mr. Potter and Mr. Morgan. Personal correspondence between the two gentlemen can be found at the Morgan Library, as well as an invitation addressed to J.P. Morgan to serve as a Pall Bearer for the Bishop's funeral services, dated 1 October, 1908. Facsimile copies of the above mentioned correspondence and invitation are included with the lot. The funeral, which took place on 20 October, was held with more than five hundred clergymen in procession, and all the pall bearers were leading citizens of New York.
Potter was a prolific community leader who became known as "the first citizen of New York," having served to address community growth, poverty, labour and social services, racial reform and more. Potter played an immeasurable role in fundraising and building of the...
Sale price
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
