Estienne Boisson

Estienne Boisson, Geneva, made for the English Market, circa 1710. Fine and rare, silver pair-cased, watch with wandering hour dial. Outer double body, and inner bassine with split bezel, both polished. Silver, champlevé, finely engraved with foliage, champlevé Arabic minute sector on the border of a slot, pointed by Roman hour numerals in the revolving aperture and showing the quarters on the inner border. Hinged gilt brass full plate with Egyptian pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain steel three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass English style balance cock pierced and engraved with foliage.Signed on the dial and back plate.Diam. 58 mm. Notes This watch is illustrated and described by Terence Camerer Cussin The Camere Cuss Book of Antique Watches, London, 1976, p.94, pl. 42.Watches with wandering hour dial were much in favour in England towards the end of the 17th century. They were often commissioned by the King to be presented to visitors or in recognition of loyalty to the country.The layout of the dial with the time displayed on the upper half, leaves the bottom half free to be decorated with engraved Royal Arms or painted with the portrait of the Monarch. For examples of such presentation watches, please refer to Antiquorum's catalogue The Art of British Horology, October 21, 1995, lots 24 and 25.Estienne BoissonSignature found on a silver watch with mock pendulum and concealed erotic enamelled scene.