Benjamin Louis Vulliamy (1780-1854)

Biography of clockmaker Benjamin Louis Vulliamy (1780-1854)

Benjamin Louis Vulliamy (1870-1854) was born in 1780, marrying Francis Styles in 1815 and died in 1854

Vulliamy was the son of the fine clockmaker Benjamin Vulliamy and worked alongside him for a number of years.

Benjamin Louis Vulliamy was keeper of the clocks in the Royal Household and would often arrange for both movements and dials to be replaced with those of his making so as to improve their efficiency. Vulliamy was also, along with his brother Justin Theodore Vulliamy, responsible for continuing the work of Frederick Barraud in building up the magnificent library of horological books belonging to the Clockmakers Company. Iindeed, many of the books were presented by the Vulliamy brothers themselves and he would push other clockmakers of note to donate books.

At a time when many new law offices and government buildings were being constructed on the orders of William IV, Vulliamy was given the opportunity to provide clocks for these buildings and it is claimed that the business supplied 187 such clocks for the Crown.

[Reference: David G Vulliamy, The Vulliamy Clockmakers, The Antiquarian Horological Society 2002]

Benjamin Louis Vulliamy (1780-1854) Related Lots

Lot FS28/744: Vulliamy, London, A Mahogany Drop-dial Wall Clock Vulliamy, London, a mahogany drop-dial wall clock the eight-day duration timepiece movement having a half dead-beat escapement, the backplate engraved Vulliamy, London, 1525, and attached to a heavy seatboard, the twelve-inch round brass painted dial having black Roman numerals, blued steel hands and painted with the Crown & Royal Monogramme and the inscription Paymaster of Exchequer Bills, AD 1842, Vulliamy, London, 1525, the back of the dial scratched with the name of the room for which the clock was to be positioned, the Ash (?) Room, Paymaster General's, the chisel-foot, drop-dial mahogany case of typical Vulliamy form with a door to the trunk and sprung lock to the bezel, height 61cm. Estimate: £3,000 - £4,000 Realised: £8,800