English 18 carat gold and enamel cylinder watch England 1774

Large watch with en grisaille painting
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A large and important gold and enamel cylinder watch, made by Peacock in London, England, circa 1774. This watch consists of two cases: an 18 carat gold inner case with the case maker’s punch mark HB and an 18 carat gold enamel painted outer case with large diamond pushers. On the back of the outer case is an oval enamel plaque with a miniature painting en grisaille on a brown enamel ground, presumably made by Augustin Toussaint. This was a popular decor, particularly in London in the late 18^th century. Depicted is Flora, the goddess of flowers, decorating a vase. The oval is framed by a delicate, white enamelled champlevé border, repeated in the bezels on the front and back. It is surrounded by beautifully formed tendrils and volutes in gold on translucent cobalt blue enamel over an engine turned background.
The white enamel dial features Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic five minute numerals and beetle & poker hands. The numbered full plate key wind movement is fitted with a chain and fusee, a cylinder escapement with steel cylinder wheel and a three arm steel balance.
The dial and movement are signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 130 g
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Signed: Peacock, London
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The watch presented here is of outstanding quality and in excellent condition
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Toussaint
Louis Toussaint was a jeweller and enameller in London. His son Augustin began his apprenticeship as an enameller with the famous enameller and chaser George Michael Moser in 1768 (for the enormous fee of 200 guineas). Augustin Toussaint’s work was exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1775 to 1788 and can be found on watches. The neoclassical grisaille technique on a brown enamel ground was particularly popular in late 18^th century in London.