Thomas Tompion

THOMAS TOMPION, GILT-METAL PAIR CASED OPENFACE KEYWOUND VERGE WATCH

CIRCA: 1710 CASE MATERIAL: Gilt metal CASE SIZE: Inner case 49 mm. diam., outer case 56 mm. diam. DIAL: Gilt MOVEMENT: Manual FUNCTIONS: Time onlyThis interesting watch by Thomas Tompion retains its champlevé dial with Roman numerals, Arabic outer minute chapter and steel beetle and poker hands. The gilt full plate fusée verge movement has a winged balance cock pierced and engraved with foliate scrolls and mask, the large Egyptian pillars are typical of Tompion. The cases are almost certainly original, the inner being stamped ‘WS’ for William Sherwood, whose maker’s mark is found on other watches by Tompion, the outer case is plain with square hinges, correct for the period. Thomas Tompion, one of the finest English clock and watchmakers of all time, is buried in the centre part of the nave of London's Westminster Abbey. The inscription on his stone (which has been re-cut) reads: "Here lies the body of Mr Tho. Tompion who departed this life the 20th of November 1713 in the 75th year of his age. Also the body of George Graham of London watchmaker and F.R.S. who curious inventions do honour to ye British genius whose accurate performances are ye standard of mechanic skill. He died ye XVI of November MDCCLI in the LXXXVIII year of his age". Tompion was born in 1639 at Northill in Bedfordshire, son of Thomas, a blacksmith, and his wife Margaret. Nothing is known of his early life and education but by the 1670s he was making turret and longcase clocks for the nobility. He was admitted to the Clockmakers' Company and worked on projects with the scientist Robert Hooke although he was never elected to the Royal Society. He supplied the original clocks for the Royal Observatory at Greenwich. His niece Elizabeth married clockmaker George Graham who inherited Tompion's business in 1713. Graham, as the inscription shows, was buried with Tompion in 1751.