William Ilbery
William Ilbery
A very fine, heavy pair-cased gold pocket watch in museum-like quality, with quarter hour/hour strike and centre seconds for the Chinese market Movm. No. 6244, Dimensions 60 mm, circa 1806, Weight 222 g, Origin England Case: Outer and inner case made of 18 K gold, engraved and pierced around the edge, outer case with case maker punch mark "WM", inner case with rear bell. Dial: Enamel, heart-shaped gold hands. Movm.: Full plate movement, gilt, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, open barrel, duplex escapement, chronometer balance with 3 weights and 3 screws, chatoned diamond endstone on balance. This magnificent well preserved watch weighs in at a remarkable 222 g. The bezel of the outer case features exquisite floral engraving. The décor is repeated on the back with some openwork on the edges for better sound of the striking mechanism. A wonderful engraved flower ornament graces the centre. The inner case features similar decoration with an openwork edge ornamented with ribbons and floral elements. The back has a finely engraved sun in the centre. The off-white enamel dial is flawless. The movement starts up right away and the strike is full and pleasant. William Ilbery (circa 1760-1839) began working in London's Goswell Street in 1780 and moved to Duncan Terrace later. Influenced by the examples of James Cox in London and Pierre Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, Ilbery specialized in producing luxury watches for the Chinese Market. At first he very much adhered to the traditional English style with its full plate movement and single-wheel duplex escapement, although he used a spring detent escapement for his highest quality pieces. For later movements Ilbery took his inspiration from the Lepine caliber with free-standing barrel, as did Jaquet-Droz with the watches he signed in London and William Anthony in London. Ilbery had the cases of his watches exquisitely decorated by the best enamellers from Geneva such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, or Jean-Louis Richter, who signed only very infrequently. William Ilbery initiated the production of opulently engraved movements for the Asian market in Fleurier in Switzerland; other makers in Fleurier such as Bovet and Juvet followed his example. Ilbery should therefore be considered one of the most renowned makers of the so-called "Chinese watches". Although he worked mainly in London, Ilbery kept in close contact with the trade in other countries; a watch signed "Ilbery Paris" is known and Ilbery & Son were recorded in London and Fleurier as well as in Canton. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.
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William Ilbery
A very fine, heavy pair-cased gold pocket watch in museum-like quality, with quarter hour/hour strike and centre seconds for the Chinese market Movm. No. 6244, Dimensions 60 mm, circa 1806, Weight 222 g, Origin England Case: Outer and inner case made of 18 K gold, engraved and pierced around the edge, outer case with case maker punch mark "WM", inner case with rear bell. Dial: Enamel, heart-shaped gold hands. Movm.: Full plate movement, gilt, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, open barrel, duplex escapement, chronometer balance with 3 weights and 3 screws, chatoned diamond endstone on balance. This magnificent well preserved watch weighs in at a remarkable 222 g. The bezel of the outer case features exquisite floral engraving. The décor is repeated on the back with some openwork on the edges for better sound of the striking mechanism. A wonderful engraved flower ornament graces the centre. The inner case features similar decoration with an openwork edge ornamented with ribbons and floral elements. The back has a finely engraved sun in the centre. The off-white enamel dial is flawless. The movement starts up right away and the strike is full and pleasant. William Ilbery (circa 1760-1839) began working in London's Goswell Street in 1780 and moved to Duncan Terrace later. Influenced by the examples of James Cox in London and Pierre Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, Ilbery specialized in producing luxury watches for the Chinese Market. At first he very much adhered to the traditional English style with its full plate movement and single-wheel duplex escapement, although he used a spring detent escapement for his highest quality pieces. For later movements Ilbery took his inspiration from the Lepine caliber with free-standing barrel, as did Jaquet-Droz with the watches he signed in London and William Anthony in London. Ilbery had the cases of his watches exquisitely decorated by the best enamellers from Geneva such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, or Jean-Louis Richter, who signed only very infrequently. William Ilbery initiated the production of opulently engraved movements for the Asian market in Fleurier in Switzerland; other makers in Fleurier such as Bovet and Juvet followed his example. Ilbery should therefore be considered one of the most renowned makers of the so-called "Chinese watches". Although he worked mainly in London, Ilbery kept in close contact with the trade in other countries; a watch signed "Ilbery Paris" is known and Ilbery & Son were recorded in London and Fleurier as well as in Canton. Case: very good. Dial: very good. Movm.: very good, capable of running, cleaning recommended.
