Clocks, Watches & Jewellery

This Shibyama decorated ivory timepiece is a highlight of Derek Roberts Antiques’ and Patric Capon Fine Antique Clocks’ joint exhibition of carriage and other travelling clocks from October 29 to November 3 at 25 Shipbourne Road in Tonbridge, Kent.

Works of art by architect-designer William Burges (1827-1881) are extremely rare – but serendipity has seen half a dozen pieces emerge recently in the regions.

A collection of 27 intaglios from the collection of Prince Stanislas Poniatowski (1754-1833), nephew of the last King of Poland, came to auction in London last month with a intriguing back-story.

The technological breakthrough of a clock which could keep accurate time to within one second every month was an unheard-of feat in 1727.

Among the submissions considered for the Radio 4’s popular series ‘A History of the World in 100 Objects’ were two modest pieces of silver and enamel Art Nouveau-style jewellery by Charles Horner (1837-96) of Halifax – the local jeweller turned international manufacturer who through mass-production methods, innovative designs and marketing genius took high fashion to the masses.

This rare 18k gold cased ‘Jump-Hour’ wristwatch is included in the quarterly fine art auction on September 18-19 at Rosebery’s of West Norwood, South London.

In what has been described as “the largest single transaction to ever occur in the field of decorative arts”, California Bay Area auctioneers Michaan’s have purchased, for sale, an unparalleled collection of Tiffany and other Art Nouveau works of art.

Suspended in a bubble of Baccarat crystal and powered only by temperature change, this Atmos 561 mechanical clock will become the first of its model to be offered at auction in the UK when it goes on sale at Fellows of Birmingham on September 3.

“My dear Caroline, The enclosed Ring once belonged to your Aunt Jane. It was given to me by your Aunt Cassandra as soon as she knew that I was engaged to your Uncle. I bequeath it to you. God bless you.”

While 19th century wheel, or banjo, barometers have not been the most sought after items at auction in recent times, 18th century stick barometers can still bring strong demand, as evidenced by the George III example pictured here.

Coins, medals and watches worth over £50,000 have been stolen as a series of museum break-ins continues.

Among the clocks sold in London this summer, there were some of the glitziest and most expensive timekeepers to go under the hammer in recent times, many of them made for the Chinese market.

A selection of natural pearl jewellery will be included in Woolley and Wallis’ designated sale on July 19 in Salisbury.

A large sale of jewellery and watches from Suttons & Robertsons, London’s oldest pawnbrokers, is to be offered at Fellows of Birmingham on July 16.

The fine pictures, silver and jewellery auction at Halls of Shrewsbury on June 27 will offer for sale the coronets and accompanying robes bought in the second quarter of the 19th century from Garrard & Co Ltd and worn by the Earl and Countess of Cavan.

After 12 years of trading together, London clock dealers Nigel Raffety and Howard Walwyn of Raffety & Walwyn Ltd have announced that they will be going their separate ways this month.

Antiques Roadshow and Midlands auction house Gildings have conspired again to find a second William Burges brooch.

Ramraiders have stolen more than 50 silver and jewellery items worth up to £20,000 from an auction house in Worcestershire.

Bids in the region of £1000-1500 are expected at Plymouth Auction Rooms on May 9 for this Eureka four-glass electric clock.

IF pearls reached the peak of their popularity in antiquity, when the Roman general Vitellius is said to have financed an entire military campaign by selling just one of his mother’s pearl earrings, then the market in 2012 does not rest too far behind.