Y An unusual Victorian silver mounted ivory miniature 'humpback' carriage timepiece W. Thornhill and Company, London 1880 The French eight-day movement with platform lever escapement and stamped with serial number 2104 to backplate, the 1.125 inch circular white enamel dial with blued steel spade hands and signed W. THORNHILL & Co., LONDON, W to centre within Arabic vertical numeral chapter ring set behind a convex glass with silver bezel, the silver-edged arched 'humpback' case with pivoted dumbbell-shaped handle applied to the apex of a rising strap secured by riveted straps applied to the sides, the rear with hinged door, Hallmarks for London 1880 makers W.T. for W. Thornhill and Company, 7cm (2.75ins) high with handle down; with original fabric-covered outer protective case inscribed W. THORNHILL & Co., 144 NEW BOND STREET, LONDON to the blue silk-lined interior of the arched lid. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. The London firm of Walter Thornhill and Company are recorded on the British Museum website as being founded by Joseph Gibbs in 1734. They were originally cutlers but by 1805 had become known as Morley & Thornhill, later from 1820 as John James Thornhill & Co., listed from 1838 as 'cutlers to the Queen'. By 1850 or 1851 the firm was in the hands of Walter Thornhill and from c.1875 was Walter Thornhill & Co. In 1895 when the firm became a limited liability company it was described as 'cutlers, gold and silversmiths, jewellers and manufacturers and dealers in dressing cases, travelling bags etc.'. The company was wound up in 1905 but trading continued under the name W. Thornhill & Co. until 1912.