English gold quarter repeating repoussé watch Circa 1770

Gold pair cased repoussé quarter repeater by Ellicott
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A fine English 18 carat gold pair cased key wind quarter repeating repoussé pocket watch, London Hallmark for 1770. Gilt full plate with cylinder escapement movement, pierced and engraved balance cock, plain three armed balance, diamond end stone, silver regulation, baluster pillars, two hammers striking on the bell. White enamel dial with black Arabic numerals, black outer minute divisions and gold heart form hands. Pierced and engraved inner case depicting a green man and riverside scene, inner bell secured by one screw, pierced and engraved outer repoussé case depicting Hannibal at Nine Years of Age, Swearing Enmity to the Romans. Movement signed and numbered, case stamped HT and numbered, signed and numbered inner cap. Accompanied by associated gilt chatelaine engraved with instrument panels.
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Diameter outer case: 50 mm
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Signed: Ellicott London
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John Ellicott was born in 1706, the son of a clockmaker of the same name. He was one of the outstanding clockmakers of the 18th century, producing a large number of fine clocks for the home market and export and was also instrumental in the perfection of the cylinder escapement. His reputation for excellence in design and execution lead him to the position in 1762 of Clockmaker to King George III. For this role, he was paid 150 pounds per annum. Roughly at the same time he took into partnership his son Edward with later works dating from 1769 onward signed ‘& Son’.
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The repoussé of the current piece depicts a 9-year-old Hannibal standing before a statue of Hercules, with his sword placed on the altar, swearing an oath to his father Hamilcar to never be a friend of the Romans. Through time the significance and original meaning of this oath has evolved and it is now not uncommon to use Hannibal as a metaphor for an intense and unyielding hatred. At the age of 26, Hannibal became the commander in chief of the Carthaginian army and went on to accomplish a legendary defeat of the Romans.
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For mention of this watch see page 30 in The Art of the Gold Chaser in Eighteenth-Century London by Richard Edgcumbe where the current example is described as an example of a late rococo case with scenes previously used by Moser. A further example of this repoussé scene is illustrated as fig. 61a in the same text.