We have always considered and collected these commercial masks and helmets as industries tribal art. Examples can be elegant in their simplicity or bazaar and complex. They are always unique, suprising and filled with personality.
English Marine Detent Chronometer – Alexander Cairns, Liverpool (Serial No. 702)
Offered here is a 19th-century English marine detent chronometer by Alexander Cairns of Liverpool, a respected maker active at 32 Waterloo Road during the mid-to-late 1800s. This precision timepiece features a 56-hour mechanical movement with a spring detent escapement, housed in a brass gimbal within a three-tier mahogany box (note that the top tier is no longer there). The 2nd tier does contain the viewing window and it still there to protect the instrument. The silvered dial is signed "Alex Cairns, 32 Waterloo Road, Liverpool" and includes Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds, and a power reserve indicator. The chronometer is in excellent condition, with the movement recently serviced and running accurately. The case shows minor wear consistent with its age, preserving its historical integrity. Marine chronometers like this were vital for determining longitude at sea, a critical component of safe and accurate navigation during the 19th century. Alexander Cairns' instruments were known for their precision and reliability, making them a trusted choice for mariners of the era ... $1,199.
