Sale SEP11A Lot 227

Gentleman's 18ct gold open faced pocket watch by Daniel Buckney (Maker to The Admiralty, London), with a crown wind movement, sweep second hand, white enamel dial, Roman numerals and signed and numbered circa 1899; together with a dress watch chain stamped 9ct on the T-bar and 15ct on the links. Length 29cm, weight 17grams

PROVENANCE; This watch belonged to Joseph King (1860-1943) and was given to the present vendor by his widow. King played a key role in the Peasant Arts movement in Haslemere, and was founder of the Peasant Arts Museum.

He and his wife lived at Lower Birtley, Witley, near Haslemere in the 1890's. He was active in politics and was a member of Parliament for North Somerset from 1910-1918.

King owned land on Kings Road, Haslemere, that was then called Foundry Meadow, and it was here that the Peasant Arts buildings were erected. The KIngs lived at Sandhouse, in Witley until 1922, when they moved to Hill Farm, Camelsdale, near Haslemere until Mrs King's death in 1927.

King donated Foundry Meadow to the Peasant Art Guild in 1914. This was the land where the weaving houses and workshops were. It also housed the Peasant Arts museum from 1912. During the development of the Haslemere Educational Museum Joseph King spoke to the Museum committee on the peasant arts collections and supervised the move from the King's road site to the museum in 1926. The Guild offered the collection to the Museum committee as a free gift together with a building fund of £500 which King matched using his own private funds. The Guild furnished, fitted and decorated two rooms to house the collection. He was appointed Honorary Curator of the collection until his death in 1943.




Estimate £ 800-1,200

No cracks or chips to dial. Light wear to case and very light scratches to glass. Wooden case, cracked and damaged.

Sold for £1300