English gilt metal and painted enamel pair cased watch Circa 1790

Gilt metal open faced key winding verge watch
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A fine and large English gilt metal and painted enamel open faced pair cased pocket watch made for the Chinese Market, depicting Le Coq Chinois (The Chinese Rooster), made by Timothy Williamson, London, circa 1790. It has a mechanical key winding fire gilded brass movement with a verge escapement, a fusee and chain, a flat three armed balance wheel with a spiral balance spring, a silver regulation disc, and cylindrical pillars. The movement is spectacularly decorated with a large, intricately openworked and pierced balance cock chased with detailed flowers and scrolling foliage, extending down to a matching decorated foot, signed and numbered Tim. Williamson London. The white enamel dial features black Roman numerals for the hours, an outer minute track with Arabic numerals from 5 to 60, and distinctive gilt Beetle & Poker hands.
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The timepiece is housed in a protective pair case configuration. The inner case is crafted from plain, polished gilt metal, with a smooth reverse back cover stamped with the master mark SLIGO. The outer case features a finely engine turned guilloché reverse back cover inset with a vibrant polychrome painted enamel medallion of a rooster standing in a pastoral farm landscape. The outer bezel is beautifully chased and engraved with natural foliage motifs, completed by a plain pendant stem, a sturdy round suspension bow, and a matching gold key.
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Diameter: 101 mm
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Signed: Timothy Williamson London
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Timothy Williamson was a highly prominent British watchmaker and goldsmith active in London between 1769 and 1788. He achieved great renown for his exceptional horological creations tailored specifically for the lucrative Chinese market. During the late 18th century, Chinese imperial court members and wealthy merchants developed an intense fascination with European mechanical marvels, giving rise to a highly specialized trade. Williamson masterfully adapted his production to satisfy the distinctive aesthetic preferences of this elite clientele. He frequently collaborated with other legendary figures of the era, such as William Hughes and the automaton master Jaquet-Droz. His prestige is firmly cemented by the fact that the Forbidden City collections at the Palace Museum in Beijing today house a spectacular musical automaton clock from his workshop.
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Williamson’s luxury timepieces were celebrated for their high precision movements, ensuring the mechanical reliability and durability demanded by collectors, as well as their opulent presentation. By combining heavily pierced and engraved English calibres with vibrant, meticulously executed polychrome enamel paintings, his workshop produced exquisite masterpieces that perfectly bridged Western mechanical ingenuity with Eastern decorative luxury. Today, his large scale pocket watches remain highly prized, investment grade examples of this historic horological exchange.
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In Imperial China, the rooster held a deeply revered symbolic status, encapsulating the core virtues of vigilance, bravery, prosperity, and moral dignity. As an essential sign within the Chinese zodiac, its natural role in heralding the dawn made it a powerful symbol of order, discipline, and punctuality—qualities directly associated with the harmonious governance of the imperial court and the unwavering dedication of its officials. Furthermore, the rooster was celebrated for its protective and courageous nature, representing a fierce guardian capable of warding off malevolent forces. Its vibrant presence in art, combined with the traditional alignment of its red features with luck and abundance, made it a favoured motif among the elite to attract fortune and success. By adorning this luxurious pocket watch with “Le Coq Chinois,” Timothy Williamson masterfully integrated an auspicious cultural emblem that carried profound meaning and spiritual resonance for his esteemed Chinese clientele.