Lot 1
A WATCH BELONGING TO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN
A fascinating and unique item, an eighteenth-century pocket watch by Scheffler of Meissen, bearing a finely-engraved portrait of Franklin on the verso. The watch is coin or sterling silver with a chain-driven movement (verge fusee movement) and a white enameled dial. It is key-wound , and the face is hand-painted porcelain, ca. 1770. The verso displays an engraving in the style of the renowned alloy engraving drawn by C. N. Cochin in 1777 and engraved by A. H. Richie, showing a mature Franklin wearing a fur hat and spectacles. The watch's European origins strongly suggest that it was a presentation piece given to Franklin by an admirer during his tenure as Commissioner for the United States in France, a post he held from 1776-1785. In this capacity, Franklin was lauded for his efforts on behalf of his country, which included negotiating the Treaty of Paris in 1783 which formally ended the Revolutionary War. It would be of little surprise, then, that a watch of this nature would have been given to him by a dignitary or other governmental official in response to his assistance in such historically-important events. Hidden within the watch was a note of provenance penned on a 1" square of paper in 1912, discovered by our consignor, an enthusiast of timepieces who would have had reason to open the inner case. Written on a slip which had been neatly trimmed to fit within the case is the following: "Watch given to me by Lanier Washington from his private collection, said to have belonged to Benj. Franklin 1760 - the brother of my ancestors the Rhinelanders 1912". Indeed, there seems to have been some genealogical connection between the Rhinelanders and the Franklins. William C. Rhinelander (d. 1878), was a wealthy merchant and patriarch of the famed New York City family. Arriving in the country in 1686, the family remained in Tory-controlled New York City during the Revolutionary War. They later built many prominent structures within the city, including the massive Gertrude Rhinelander Waldo Mansion at 867 Madison Avenue. Rhinelander claimed Benjamin Franklin as kin, although we have not been able to trace the exact linkage because Franklin was one of ten sons, one of more of whom may have been related. However, Rhinelander also boasted to be a descendent of Alexander Hamilton, a claim substantiated the marriage of Maria Hamilton to a Rhinelander family member in the 1860s. Rhinelander's son, T. J. Oakley Rhinelander, was a business associate and social acquaintance of William Lanier Washington (1865-1933), the original owner of the watch. Both men served together on a mayoral committee in 1912, the year the note of provenance was penned. Lanier was a direct descendent of George Washington's brother, and, according to Historical Relics of George Washington, the hereditary descendent of Washington in the Society of the Cincinnati. Lanier was born the eldest son of Maj. James Barroll Washington (1839-1900), the great-great-grandnephew of George Washington and the son of C.S.A. Col. Lewis William Washington (1812-1871), one of the main hostages at the Battle of Harper's Ferry in 1859. James served as an aide to General Johnston during the Civil War, and later had three children including Lanier. Lanier, who married three times yet remained childless, modestly described himself as a steel manufacturer, but of late is better remembered as the pre-eminent early twentieth-century purveyor of items associated with George Washington. He claimed to have been given a large collection of Washington's items by his half-uncle, William de Hertburn Washington (1864-1937) who himself had obtained them from his own great-grandfather and the nephew of George Washington, Col. George Corbin Washington. Through this convoluted genealogical path it is entirely possible that Lanier may have passed on to Rhinelander one of the large number of relics he possessed before selling the collection at an incredible public sale on April 17, 1917. The sale included otherwise unobtainable objects such as Washington's personal effects, silverware, a sword belt buckle worn to battle, the wedding ring belonging to Washington's mother, letters and documents, and so forth. With a seemingly solid provenance, the authenticity of the items sold was not questioned at the time. Based on the story behind this watch, it makes good sense that Lanier, as Washington's direct descendent and inheritor of much of his belongings, would have had access to relics from other notable Americans, including Franklin, or perhaps Franklin gave the wach as a token gift to Washington. Adding further intrigue to the lot is a pair of eighteenth-century spectacles that accompanied the watch when it was purchased. Crafted in brass, these well-used spectacles show a remarkable similarity to those worn by Franklin. The watch's face shows chipping to enamel around the numerals, otherwise in very good, but currently non-operational, condition. A fascinating lot, most worthy of further research and restoration.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer
Shipping
Shipment is sent USPS priority, USPS International Express (for most overseas) or UPS Ground at the auctioneer's option, signature required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling, shipping and insurance charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyer's should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. Customer's who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee.
Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 22.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $99 | $10 |
| $100 | $499 | $20 |
| $500 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 + | $1,000 |