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RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES

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A very fine Regency mahogany longcase regulator of eight day duration, time piece only, signed on the silvered brass dial L. G. Weygang Guernsey, the standard regulator dial showing the minutes marked around the edge, a large seconds ring below 60 and the hour ring above 30, with a fine set of blued steel pointers for the hours, seconds and sweep centre minutes. The beautifully finished weight driven five-pillar movement bolted to the seatboard by three heavy brass brackets, with jewelled pallets for the Graham deadbeat anchor escapement, maintaining power, spring suspension, all the wheelwork with six crossings and beat regulation provided, the mercury compensated pendulum with a slide on the rod for fine regulation is suspended from a massive bar spanning both plates. The superb double plinth mahogany veneered case with breakarch top headed by a shaped block and surmounted by a brass ball finial flanked below by a pair of corresponding finials above reeded, brass capped and strung quarter hood pilasters. The dial surrounded by a veneered mask and inner gilt brass bezel, with a further brass bezel let into the full width opening hood door above shaped stringing panels. The trunk with an arched door also flanked by reeded, brass capped and strung quarter hood pilasters, which quite unusually are repeated on the base, which has raised panel and rests on a double plinth London, date circa 1820 Height 222 cm, width 44 cm, depth 25 cm. This extremely fine regulator was made in about 1820. The quality of both the movement and the case is so good that it could only have been made in London by one of the leading specialist clock and regulator makers. We can assume that it was then purchased by a top Guernsey clockmaker to ensure that the clocks and watches that he made, restored and sold kept accurate time. We know this since the name of Guernsey inscribed on the dial has remained untouched while the original owner’s name was later replaced by that of L G Weygang, who arrived in Guernsey in 1885-6. Louis Gustave Weygang (b. circa 1861) most probably acquired the regulator along with his new business at 15 Smith Street St. Peter Port and at that time substituted his own name in place of the original, leaving the inscription ‘Guernsey’ intact. Born in London, Weygang began his career with the reputed firm of Messrs. Lund and Blockley at 42 Pall Mall, London, ‘Watchmakers to Her Majesty the Queen and the Royal Family’. Among his responsibilities Weygang examined and regulated watches and various timepieces belonging to H. R. H. Princess Christian, the Duchess of Roxburgh, other members of the royal family and nobility. At one time, he was entrusted with the maintenance of a clock presented by Queen Victoria to her grandson Prince Albert Victor as a confirmation gift. In addition he was frequently employed on work for the famous General Charles Gordon and also gained a certificate from Kew Observatory for testing watches. Weygang’s high repute continued when he set up business in Smith Street St Peterport and was the subject of a short magazine article appearing in “Guernsey Illustrated”, 1896, pp. 53-4, which described his activities as an excellent clock, watch and chronometer maker, jeweller and retailer. Accordingly Weygang undertook commissions for new watches as well as repairs, scientific horological work in all branches as well as jewellery setting. His shop offered a wide selection of clocks, watches, optical items as well as jewellery, gold, silver and presentation pieces. By way of demonstrating his technical skill and ingenuity, Weygang showed his public how he could drill a needle from point to head, then insert a finer needle, which was then also drilled, into which he then inserted an even finer third needle. In addition to his technical ability, he also took out patents on his electric bells and electric alarm clocks. In 1886, shortly after arriving in Guernsey, Weygang and his wife Sarah Ann née Churchman had their first child, Louis followed by Elsie, Harry and Frank who were all born in Guernsey. It appears that Weygang remained in business at St Peter Port until 1901 after which his name no longer appeared in the trade almanacs. An illustration and description of this extremely fine piece will be included in volume II of Derek Robert’s forthcoming book on regulators.

 



RICHARD REDDING ANTIQUES

Dorfstrasse 30
8322 Gündisau, Switzerland,

tel +41 44 212 00 14
mobile + 41 79 333 40 19
fax +41 44 212 14 10

redding@reddingantiques.ch

Exhibitor at TEFAF, Maastricht
Member of the Swiss Antique Association
Founding Member of the Horological Foundation

Art Research: 
Alice Munro Faure, B.Ed. (Cantab),
Kent/GB, alice@munro-faure.co.uk

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