Rare 1690 Joseph Buckingham English Differential Dial Pocket Watch
A rare differential dial pocket watch, maker Joseph Buckingham English circa 1690 1.81 in. diameter, 2.44 in. high, 5.3 case diameter. A rare differential dial pocket watch, maker Joseph Buckingham. English circa 1690. This watch is an example of the very rare "differential dial" variety. The centre of the dial consists of a revolving disc with the Roman hour numerals one to twelve, which rotates at a speed 1/12th less than the single poker hand which indicate both hours and minutes. Outside this disc is a decorative band depicting military emblems and the maker's signature, the minute markings being on the extremity of the dial. The movement has a verge escapement, fusee and chain, and splendid tulip pillars. It also has a mock pendulum on the balance wheel, exposed by the cutaway balance cock which also bears military emblems. The style of the balance cock is very similar to the cock on the wandering hour watch by Abraham Fromanteel in the Norman Dean collection. Provenance: Purchased by Norman Dean from Terence Camerer Cuss 11th October 1982 for 2100 Pounds. Reference: The silver repousse outer case depicting the "Triumph of Mars and Venus", with a motto "Amoris tela omnium querela", is quite unusual, but an identical case on another differential dial watch is illustrated at page 99 of Antique Watches. Of passing interest is the fact that the signature on the dial (Bukinham) is different from the signature on the black-plate (Buckingham). Of more interest is the explanation of the "triumph of Mars and Venus" in Hall at page 200: Mars, the Roman god of war was one of the twelve Olympians. His brutal and aggressive nature made him hated by nearly everyone, including his parents Jupiter and Juno. The exception was Venus, who fell hopelessly in love with him. Here he is depicted as the warlike figure (wearing armour and a plumed helmet, with his hands chained) who is tamed by love (Venus, the godess of love) as they ride together in the chariot, drawn by two lions, driven by cupid and surrounded by amoretto. Reference: Joseph Buckingham is listed in Britten, 1690-1725; Black-Moors Head and Dial, Minories; long case clock, fine marquetry case, c 1700; stolen gold watch advert. 1691. Dimensions: 1.81 in. diameter, 2.44 in. high, 5.3 case diameter
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- Pendulum - The pendulum was discovered around 1602 by Galileo Galilei, and was adopted for time keeping by the Dutch mathematician and natural philosopher, Christiaan Huygens, who excelled in astronomy, physics, and horology.
The pendulum comprises a metal rod usually of brass or steel with a metal disk, known as a bob, at the end. The movement of the pendulum is driven by weights or a spring, and as a pendulum swings in a regular arc, it was found accuracy could be controlled to within a few seconds a week.
Timekeeping can be adjusted by changing the height of the bob on the rod, making the pendulum either swing slower or faster.
The disadvantage of the pendulum was that changes in temperature also changed the length of the pendulum, interfering with the accuracy of the clock, and so in the 18th century two types of mercurial pendulums were invented which countered the movement in the steel rod.
The pendulum was the world's most accurate timekeeping technology until the invention of the quartz clock, regulated by a quartz crystal, in 1927. - Embossed / Repousse - Embossing, also known as repousse, is the technique of decorating metal with raised designs, by pressing or beating out the design from the reverse side of the object.It is the opposite of chasing, where the decoration is applied from the front. An embossed or repoussed object may have chasing applied to finish off the design.
- Cupid Motif - The Cupid motif, which features the Roman god of love and desire, Cupid, was a popular decorative element in classical ornamentation. Cupid was often depicted as a winged, naked baby with a bow and arrow, and was often used to symbolize love and desire.
In classical art and architecture, Cupid motifs were often used as decorative elements on furniture, such as on the legs of chairs and tables, as well as on architectural elements such as friezes and pediments. They were also used as decorative elements in frescoes, mosaics, and other forms of art.
During the Renaissance, Cupid motifs were often incorporated into the decoration of palaces, churches and other grand buildings, as they were seen as symbols of love and fertility. Cupid motifs were also commonly used in the decorative arts of the Baroque period, often appearing in the form of putti, which are small winged cherub figures.
In addition to their decorative use, Cupid motifs were also believed to hold symbolic meaning, as they were thought to evoke feelings of love, desire, and fertility. - Verge Escapement - A verge escapement is an early mechanical escapement used in clocks and other timekeeping devices. It is an early form of the escapement mechanism, which is used to regulate the movement of the hands of a clock or watch. The verge escapement consists of a vertical shaft called the verge, which is mounted on the clock's main plate. Attached to the verge are two pallets, which engage with the teeth of the escape wheel. As the escape wheel turns, the pallets alternately lock and release it, allowing the movement of the clock to be regulated. The verge escapement was widely used in early mechanical clocks, but it was eventually replaced by the more accurate and reliable anchor escapement.
- Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
- Aphrodite / Venus - In Greek mythology, Aphrodite is the goddess of love, desire and beauty, whilst in Roman mythology she is called Venus.
- Fusee - The fusee movement was used in clocks and pocket watches from the mid 17th century. The fusee is a cone shaped drum within the works that is linked to the barrel of the spring, usually by a length of chain.
As the mainspring loses its tension over time, the cone shaped barrel compensates for this by increasing the tension, by pulling the mainspring tighter, thus ensuring the time remains constant.
Use of the fusee in clocks was superseded by the "going barrel" in the mid 19th century and for pocket watches at the beginning of the 19th century.
The fusee continued to be used in marine chronometers until the 1970s. - Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Manner of .... / Style of ..... - A cataloguing term where the item, in the opinion of the cataloguer is a work in the style of the artist, craftsman or designer, possibly of a later period.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- militaria - military clocks, watches and chronometers 127
- pocket watches, case type
