English gold and enamel half quarter repeating verge Circa 1775

Gold and enamel repeater in pair cases by John Brockbank
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A high quality English 18 carat gold and enamel pair cased half quarter repeating verge pocket watch, circa 1775. Full plate movement, key wind, chain and fusee, two hammers and a three arm steel balance. A movement protection cap. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer minute divisions, Arabic five minute numerals and decorative hands. The outer case is decorated with translucent cobalt blue and green enamel champlevé flowers, leaves and bows with white basse-taille enamel bands, a central engraved amphora within an oval enamel medallion made of translucent cobalt blue enamel over a guilloché background, the gold inner case is engraved with foliage and flowers and has a pierced edge with a central flower stalk on the back, a bottom bell. Protection cap and movement signed and numbered.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 125 g
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Signed: Jno Brockbank London
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John Brookbank and his brother Myles founded a workshop in London in 1761. Both belonged to the Clockmakers’ Company and were known for their excellent work as chronometer manufacturers. Thomas Earnshaw and Peto worked for them at times. Between 1775 and 1815, John and Myles Brockbank took Samuel Elliot Atkins into the company and from then on signed their watches ‘Brockbanks & Atkins’.
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Basse-taille is an enamelling technique in which the artist creates a low-relief pattern in metal, usually silver or gold, by engraving or chasing. The entire pattern is created in such a way that its highest point is lower than the surrounding metal. A translucent enamel is then applied to the metal, allowing light to reflect from the relief and creating an artistic effect. It was used in the late Middle Ages and then again in the 17th century.