English gold repoussé repeating verge watch Circa 1720

An English 20K gold key wind quarter repeating pair cased pocket watch with repoussé decoration, circa 1720. Gilt full plate fusee verge movement, pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond end stone, silver regulation, polished hammers. Later white enamel dial, black Roman numerals, black outer minute track with Arabic numeral 5 minute markers and gilt spade hands. Pierced and engraved inner case, inner bell (AF), associated repoussé outer depicting a classical scene with Apollo playing a lyre surrounded by animals. Movement and cap signed.
–
Diameter: 47 mm
–
Signed: Thomas Fitter London
–
From the collection of Claude Basil Fry (1868-1942). Claude was the great-grandson of Joseph Fry (1728-1787), founder of Fry’s Chocolate and Fry’s Typefounding, both in Bristol. Claude’s grandfather Joseph Storrs Fry and father Richard were also both partners in the chocolate making company J S Fry & Sons Ltd before Claude went on to become a Director of the company himself. Fry’s produced the first chocolate Easter egg in 1873.