English center seconds duplex for the Chinese market Circa 1820

Gold and enamel duplex watch by William Ilbery
–
A museum quality English gold and enamel open faced key wound center seconds duplex pocket watch with chain made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. The glazed bridge movement with a duplex escapement, lavishly engraved, a flying barrel, ring shaped position to limit the spring force, balance wheel under a diamond rose as the capstone and blued screws. White enamel dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track, Arabic quarter hour numerals, original steel central seconds hand and decorative blued hands. Comes with the original winding key decorated with a polychrome enamel miniature. The lavishly engraved case is polychrome enamelled, a painted enamel miniature on the back showing an antique style scene, probably a depiction of Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes.
–
Diameter: 58 mm
–
Weight incl. watch chain and key: 157 gr.
–
Signed: William Ilbery London
–
William Ilbery, circa 1760-1839, was active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. After James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, he also specialized in producing luxury watches for the Chinese market.

His early production was very much in the English style, featuring a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement. However, for his highest quality watches, he incorporated a spring detent escapement. Later, the watch movements he produced were much inspired by the Lépine caliber with a free standing barrel, as were Jaquet-Droz’s Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London. The cases of his watches were sumptuously decorated by the best Genevan enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, and Jean-Louis Richter, who signed rarely.

He organized the production in Switzerland, mainly in Fleurier, of profusely engraved movements for the Asian market. He was followed in this by makers such as Bovet and Juvet who also worked in Fleurier (Val de Travers). Ilbery can therefore be considered one of the most representative makers of ‘Chinese’ watches. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade since a watch signed ‘Ilbery Paris’ is known while Ilbery & Son are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.