Benjamin Vulliamy
Benjamin Vulliamy | |
---|---|
Born | 1747 London, England |
Died | 31 December 1811 (aged 63–64)[1] |
Occupation | Clockmaker |
Spouse | Sarah de Gingins |
Children | Benjamin Lewis Vulliamy Lewis Vulliamy |
Parent(s) | de:Justin Vulliamy, Mary Gray Vulliamy |
Relatives | de:Benjamin Gray, (maternal grandfather) |
Benjamin Vulliamy (1747 – 31 December 1811), was a British
Biography
Benjamin Vulliamy was born in London, the son of Justin Vulliamy and his wife Mary. A clockmaker from Switzerland, the father had immigrated to London around 1730. Justin became an associate of Benjamin Gray, a watchmaker established in Pall Mall. He married Gray's daughter Mary in London.[2]
Justin succeeded his father-in-law in taking over the business.[3]
From an early age, the younger Vulliamy showed interest in pursuing his father's career. As an adult, he began to earn a reputation as a builder of
Benjamin went into business with his father in 1780 (Vulliamy & Son). Father and son worked together until Justin died on 1 December 1797.
Vulliamy had married and in 1780 his son Benjamin Lewis was born. This son was the last Vulliamy to devote himself to the family clockmaking business. None of his descendants took up the art of clockmaking. His grandson, George John Vulliamy, did achieve notability as an architect.
The Vulliamy clocks
Vulliamy clocks were of considerable value and represented the climax of technology at the time. A Vulliamy clock was presented to the Chinese emperor by the diplomatic mission of George Macartney to Beijing in 1793.[6] Vulliamy clocks were combined with fine porcelain figures to create artefacts that combined both science and art. The overall design was made by Vulliamy, but he employed prize-winning sculptors such as John Deare,[7] John Bacon and Charles Rossi[8] to create the figures, which were influenced by contemporary French designs.
The Vulliamy family used
Portraits
- Painting by an anonymous artist, bequeathed by B. L. Vulliamy, 1854 (Clockmakers' Museum, London).
- Wax portrait by R. C. Lucas, 1851 (Clockmakers' Museum, London).
See also
- Vulliamy family
- Halifax Town Clock, Nova Scotia
References
- ^ "Died". Salisbury and Winchester Journal. England. 6 January 1812. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ a b c Arcadian Times (ed.). "Kew Time". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
- ^ a b Montpellier Clocks (ed.). "Vulliamy, London. No. 220". Retrieved 21 May 2011.
- ^ Antique-Marks (ed.). "The astronomy clock by Benjamin Vullliamy". Retrieved 21 May 2011.
- ^ Derby City Council, ed. (2009). "Vulliamy Mantle Clock". Archived from the original on 3 November 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2011.
- ^ William Proudfoot, Biographical Memoir of James Dinwiddie: Embracing Some Account of His Travels in China and Residence in India (Liverpool: Edward Howell, 1868), 45.
- ^ a b Royal Crown Derby Gallery, Antique Marks.com. Retrieved May 2011
- OCLC 504200973.
- ^ Tessa Murdoch, « La contribution des Huguenots au goût pour la porcelaine et à sa fabrication en Angleterre » Archived 7 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, dans Sèvres (revue de la Société des Amis du musée national de Céramique), n° 15, 2006, p. 45-46.