English early gold enamel pair cased pocket watch Circa 1774

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Kenmerk
AD1584
Diameter
53 mm
Estimate
€ 6.000 - 12.000
Price sold
€ 4.000

Gold cylinder watch with en grisaille scene by Peacock
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A very fine, neoclassical English gold enamel double-cased pocket watch with enamel painting en grisaille, circa 1774. This watch consists of two cases – an 18K gold inner case with the case maker’s punch mark HB and an 18K gold enamel-painted outer case with large diamond pushers. The enamel dial features Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic five-minute numerals, and beetle & poker hands. The watch also has a full plate key wind movement with chain/fusee, cylinder escapement with steel cylinder wheel, and a three-arm steel balance.
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On the back of the outer case is an oval enamel plaque with a miniature painting en grisaille on a brown enamel ground, which was a popular decor, particularly in London in the late 18th 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 enamel painting en grisaille is presumably made by Augustin Toussaint.
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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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Augustin Toussaint was the son of the London jeweller and enameller Louis Toussaint. In 1768, for an enormous fee of 200 guineas, Augustin Toussaint began his apprenticeship with the famous enameller and chaser George Michael Moser. Augustin Toussaint was no less appreciated than his teacher. His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1775 to 1788 and can also be found on clocks by other famous London masters.
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En grisaille, or grey painting, is a painting in which one does not apply natural colours but restricts oneself to depicting things in all possible shades of the same colour, usually grey or brown.

Signed: Peacock London

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