|
Time Pieces
made by Hobler & Son *
updated Mar 2006
Catalogue Index:
1169
Jean
Francois Hobler (1727-1794) (alias John Francis Hobler) was a watchmaker in the
neighbourhood of Soho Square. His workshop was based in Porter Street in
Newport Market, London. He migrated from Switzerland
to London sometime after 1729 but it is not known if he migrated as
an adult or as a child. Subsequently this grey area in history
makes it difficult to pinpoint when and where he
apprenticed. What is known, is that Jean Francois Hobler
married in London in 1753 and began making time pieces prior to
1761.
Although he
traded as a watchmaker, he does not appear to have been a member
of the Clockmaker's Company, which regulated and maintained the
art of horology (timepiece creation) in London.1
His son on the other hand, Jean Paul
Hobler (1754-1795) (alias John Paul Hobler) was made an honorary
freeman of the Clockmaker's Company in 1770.
"Watch
and clockmakers felt under threat from increasing imports from
the continent and so the Company decided to round up
non-members, whose position or influence in society, they felt
they might be able to use in their various political campaigns.
Paul Hobler was one of them, and so he was offered the
freedom."2
The Wakefield's Merchant and Tradesman's General Directory for
London (1790) lists the pair as trading under the name
Hobler & Son from 1776-1800 (note that both men
died in the mid 1790s).
Hobler
watches were of an exquisite quality often blending Huguenot
silver techniques
with traditional watchmaking. A
watch by Jean Francois Hobler (Francis Hobler) was listed as a
1913 addition in the catalogue of the Dennison Watch Collection
(the collection was sold by Christie's in 1961). The watch
does not appear in the Christie's sale catalogue suggesting that
it may have been disposed of prior to the sale.6
Evidence to date suggests
that Jean Francois Hobler signed his creations as J. Fra Hobler
or Relboh.3
It is understood that
Jean Paul Hobler signed his watches and clocks as Paul Hobler.4
According to
Library records held by the National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
(USA) Francis Hobler was listed as a master to Thomas Lewis apprentice
watchmaker, St. Ann's (5 December 1761) and again as a master to Laurent Little apprentice watchmaker St
Ann's, Westminster (14 May 1762). Son Paul is listed
in the British Apprentice Records 1710 to 1810.7
Top
Catalogue of Hobler
Watches/Clocks
ref:
1169
Crafted
in 1786 by Jean Francois Hobler (1727-1794)
Photographs courtesy of
John Krucher (2006)5
Top
Sources:
1. Sir George White (Keeper)
The
Clockmakers' Museum, Guildhall, Aldermanbury, London
ENG. (March, 2006)
2. ibid.
3. Dennison Collection
4. Baillie, G. H. (1929) Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the
World; Hobler, Paul. London. 1770 CC. 1781-90. (gold striking watch);
Hobler, Francis. London (Porter St.) an. 1761-90. Also
sold Relboh (Hobler reversed), Watch Dennison Collection.
(source details courtesy of Ethan Kalemjian (Administrator for
Metalwork) Victoria
& Albert Museum, London ENG)
5. Thank you to John Krucher (USA) for his photographic
submissions. (March, 2006)
6. Information courtesy of Mr. P. Buck of the British Museum
(Horology), March 2006
7. Correspondence between John Krucher (USA) and Don Dahlberg
(Volunteer) National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors
(NAWCC)
Top
|