DESCRIPTION:
APW - Pearsall & Embree, New York, verge fusee presumably of English manufacture and marked for this early American retail partnership, 50mm, silver OF original pair cases bearing London hallmarks for 1783, incuse "I B" marking likely for casemaker John Bullocke, inner case with initials engraved to rear, white enamel dial, beetle and poker hands, KWKS (key not included with this lot), verge escapement, gilt mvt with pierced and engraved foliate scrolled balance cock having a bird at its neck, signed gilt locking dust-cap, s#46320. A very attractive piece hallmarked to the closing year of the Revolutionary War, this watch therefore falls right on the dividing line between the end of the Colonial Era and the dawn of the Federal Era. Thomas Pearsall and Effingham Embree were in partnership from 1781 until 1790, and interestingly they appear to have been at very different ends of the political spectrum, with Pearsall a Loyalist who signed a petition against the Continental Congress, and Embree rumored to have been a member of the Committee of Safety under Captain Egbert. By July 1781, the wealthy Quaker Pearsall was a "Loyalist refugee," while Embree apparently kept the shop operating. The aforementioned dates and biographical info on Pearsall and Embree are among the info contained in an excellent piece of research by David Grace titled "Pearsall and Embree: A Short Business Genealogy" that was previously available online, but for which we can unfortunately no longer find a working link.
CONDITION:
Mvt: NR, chain is present but fusee will not turn to wind, balance will tick with some reverse pressure given at fusee, overhaul needed and we suspect that the rigidity of fusee may be as often occurs when old shark or whale oil hardens up on the internal fusee clicks, excellent cosmetic mvt condition overall, few fine scratches, some clouding and smudge of plate surfaces that may improve with a cleaning; dial with flake at left of center, some scratches with the most notable being from 4 to 5 and below "New York," some scattered lesser scratches and fine scratches elsewhere; fine hands, hour with oxide and finish loss; outer case shows very light wear, an attractive dark patina, some mild fine scratches, mild dent to lower-right perimeter of rear, few mild dings to left center of rear, protruding ding left of rear center, button latch good though with button dented; inner case shows very little wear, a moderate patina, shallow circumferential indentation around sides, mild ding above winding aperture, some mild pinpoint nicks to rear, evident repair to pendant junction with solder excess visible internally and externally; bow pivots freely and with some side-to-side play within pendant through-hole; domed glass crystal with small edge chip at bottom-right.
ESTIMATE:
$700
-
$1300
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