THOMAS TOMPION, LONDON: A FINE SILVER PAIR-CASED VERGE POCKET WATCH

The plain outer case with square hinge, case-maker EA incuse (for Thomas East), the inner case with a convex glass, later pendant and bow, numbered 292 and maker's mark WI incuse (for William Jaques), with small pivoted dust-cover to the winding hole, the giltplate movement signed Tho Tompion and numbered 292, with elaborately pierced and foliate engraved large cock and foot, with silver regulation dial, four pierced-tulip pillars, with chain fusée and verge escapement, the silver champlevé dial with Roman chapters between small crescent markers and outer Arabic five-minute markers and marked minute ring, the inner recessed matted centre with cherub garland and signature cartouches engraved Tompion London, blued steel pierced tulip and poker hands

Outer case 57mm diam.
Inner case 49mm diam.

PROVENANCE:
Possibly Sotheby's, London, 14 March 1957. 
Sotheby's, London, 18 March 1974, lot lot 30 (Hammer price £1,700)
The Property of a Collector.

LITERATURE:
Jeremy Evans, THOMAS TOMPION at the Dial and Three Crowns, Wadhurst, 2006, pp. 88 & 89.

COMPARATIVE LITERATURE:
See Jeremy Evan's paper published in Antiquarian Horology, June 1984, p. 585-597, on the numbering of Tompion's watches series and system. 

Evans, Carter & Wright, THOMAS TOMPION 300 YEARS, Stroud, 2013, p. 584, illustrates Tompion No. 2628, which is virtually identical to this watch.

Philip Priestley, British Watchcase Gold & Silver Marks 1670-1970, Columbia, 2018, pp. 184 & 276.

Another sold, No. 3118, Bonhams, London, 21 June 2017, lot 90, £25,000
Another, No. 2628, sold Sotheby's, London, The Genius of Thomas Tompion, 15 December 2016, lot 11 £23,750.
No. 2934, sold Sotheby's, New York, 15 December 2009, lot 82, $21,250
No. 4003, sold Christie's, London, 20 February 2008, lot 28, £66,500

In his concise checklist of the clocks, watches and instruments from Tompion's workshops, Evans lists No. 1292, on page 89, stating the case-makers, dial type and pillar design, together with the provenance to the 1974 Sotheby's sale.  Interestingly, No. 292 has a virtually identical description but notes 'Lyre' pillars and gives an earlier 1957 Sotheby's provenance.  Is this perhaps the same watch?  At first sight it is easy to see why in 1957 it could be considered No. 292, especially if it is not understood that the zero/dot device is Tompion's numeral '1'.


CONDITION REPORT
Overall the watch is in very good original condition.
The watch ticks with a good action when wound.
As noted the pendant and bow are later.
The outer case has some marks and knocks commensurate with age.