$9,200
J. Snelling, London, circa 1750. Very fine 22K gold and enamel pair-cased quarter repeating watch. Double body outer, pierced and engraved with foliage, vignettes on the bezel and back embossed in high relief and enamelled with flowers and vignettes representing the four elements depicted by animals, the inset centre panel with birds and flowers on matted ground. Inner, double body bassine, pierced and engraved with inhabited foliage and grotesque mask. Gold champleve with Roman numerals and outer Arabic minute ring, centre cartouche in reserve. Blued steel "poker and beetle" hands. Hinged gilt brass full plate with turned pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, English gilt brass cock. Quarter repeating on a bell and "a toe " by depressing the pendant. Signed on the dial, back plate and dust cap. Diam. 47 mm. Notes This form of enamelling in high relief on a white ground, is often attributed to the English goldsmith Alexander J. Strachant, but in fact he was only working from the latter part of the Regency period. This technique was rarely applied to watches during the 18th century.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1998-06-20
