WILLIAM EVILL of BATH    C1780

A well proportioned carved oak case with 5 pillar 8 day movement, single sheet brass dial, strike silent, secondary minute and calendar dial.

The maker, William Evill is noted in Baillie’s ‘Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World’ as working in Bath from 1762 until 1787 and there are many notable clocks noted in his name. He was working on his own in Union Street about 1762. At the time he placed an advert in the Bath Chronicle and it said:-

“To be sold, wholesale and retail by William Evill, at his shop opposite the White-Lyon, Bath… All sorts of Gold, Silver and Pinchbeck watches, which are made by a very good workman and I warrant every watch good that I sell at Four Guineas and upwards and will engage to keep them in good repair for seven years, or longer if required, the first year gratis and 2/6 a year afterwards. The Golden Cup, 21 Market Place”.

Sometime after that he went into partnership as ‘William & John Evill’ but the partnership was dissolved in 1779 according to Baillie (or 1776 according to Bellchambers). William then went into partnership as ‘Evill Naish & Stroud’ until about 1780. After this William went into partnership again and traded as ‘William & James’ in Union Street until the partnership was dissolved in 1790 and James continued on his own until about 1795.

The case is we believe bespoke and custom made by Edwards and Roberts in about 1850 to 1860. The firm was founded in 1845, and had premises at 21 Wardour Street London. By 1892 they occupied more than a dozen buildings in Wardour Street, where they continued to trade until the end of the century. They became one of the leading London cabinet makers and retailers working in a variety of styles, both modern and revivalist. Their business also involved retailing, adapting and restoring the finest antique furniture and there are many examples of their earlier furniture with later embellishments bearing their stamp. Edwards & Roberts specialized in marquetry, inlay and ormolu. There is an original trade label fixed to the back board of the case.

Height 92” / 234 cm

Width (top of hood) 20¼ “ / 51.5 cm

PRICE £3,850                                                                                                                     

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