George Prior is recorded as working at 31 Prescot Street, Goodmans Fields (1765-1788), Rosomans Row (1794), Lombard Street (1798-1810) and 5 St. George Yard (1808-1812). He is a particularly known for his high quality musical clocks made for export to Turkey and is known to have purchased movements from Thwaites & Reed and also Spencer & Perkins. He was succeeded by his son Edward in 1812. Reference: Sotheby’s
TRIPLE-CASED VERGE WATCH FOR TURKISH MARKET. Verge escapement. Enamel dial with Turkish numerals. Silver triple cases; outer case shell covered.
© The Trustees of the British Museum
George Prior. A large, rare and unusual silver openface pocket chronometer with later case Signed Geoe Prior, Invt et Fecit, London, no. 2, movement circa 1810, case early 20th century Gilt-finished full plate movement, chain fusée, Arnold’s spring detent escapement, balance bridge engraved Patent, bimetallic Z balance with compensation weights, blued steel helical spiral, free sprung regulator with diamond endstone, silver cuvette, tinted enamel dial, Roman numerals, large plain circular case, pink gold hinges, case and cuvette stamped with incomplete English hallmarks, dial signed, movement signed and numbered 61 mm. diam.
Sold for CHF 6,250 at Christie’s in 2011
GEORGE PRIOR London verge watch, with 3 outer cases in silver, probably for the Ottoman market, England around 1785, dial & movement signed, enamel dial with small cracks, outer case with tortoise-shell, famous watchmaker literature ‘Baillie’ page 258, gold-plated plate movement by chain & fusee, balance cock with filigree pierced work, outer diameter approx. 72 mm, needs to be serviced, condition 3
Sold for €1,000 at Henry’s Auktionshaus AG in 2019
A red and gilt japanned musical table clock, George Prior, London, circa 1780 8¾-inch dial with scroll spandrels, matted centre with date aperture, the arch with a recessed plaque signed George Prior, London and flanked by strike/silent and tune selection dials, the three train fusee movement with later conversion to anchor escapement, striking the hours on a bell and playing one of four tunes at the hour or at will on a nest of eight bells with sixteen hammers, the case with bell top and pineapple finials, canted corners with ribbon-tied floral mounts, brass side handles and foliate frets, moulded base with gilt scroll feet, the whole decorated in gilt with foliate scrolls and swags 66cm. 26in. high
Sold for 6,875 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2013
This clock rests on four scroll feet and is surmounted by a domed top with a flame finial. At the corners are ormolu pilasters surmounted by similar finials. Above the plain dial is a marine processional view.
Reference: © Victoria and Albert Museum
George Prior, London. A fine enameled gold pair case verge watch for the Turkish market and a diamond set gold crank key Date: London hallmark for 1813 Movement: Gilt full plate with fusee, pierced cock, scroll capped pillars Dial: White enamel, Turkish chapters and minute numerals, gold beetle and poker hands Case: Outer: scalloped, finely painted harbor scene with lighthouse over sunburst guilloché ground within a champlevé border; inner: plain gold, pendant set with rose-cut diamond, casemaker’s incuse mark AN Signed: Dial and movement Size: 35mm diam. of outer case Accompaniments: Crank key in the form of a wreath of leaves, set on each side with a rose-cut diamond, and a short gilt metal chain
Sold for US$ 5,075 (£ 3,875) inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2019
