10,695 CHF
Francis Upjohn, London, No. 328, repoussé by William Gastrell, circa 1770. Very fine double-cased 22K gold and diamond-set repoussé quarter-repeating pocket watch, made for the Dutch market. Outer: Louis XV, repoussé in very high relief with a scene probably depicting Joseph being sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt, the bezel decorated with rocailles and foliage. Inner: two-body, by “ A.”, “bassine”, band pierced and engraved with foliage, mask at 6. D. Slightly convex, white enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer arcaded minute ring with five-minute Arabic markers. Mounted on a brass hinged dial plate. Diamond-set hands. 38 mm, hinged, full plate frosted gilt, column pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, three-arm steel balance, single-footed cock pierced and engraved with asymmetrical foliage with exotic bird at the base, diamond endstone, repeating by two hammers on a bell by depressing the pendant.Movement signed, the case engraved with chaser’s initials.Diam. 51 mm. Notes William Gastrell was born in 1747. His father, John, was a chaser and young William learned the family business very early. In 1760 he won prizes for his drawings in the category of those under 14 years of age, from the Society of Arts. LiteraturE“The Art of the Gold Chaser”, Richard Edgcumbre, Oxford, 2000.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-11-14
