English gold triple cased repoussé pocket watch Circa 1768

Very fine open faced pocket watch by William Thornton
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A very fine English 22 Carat gold triple cased repoussé pocket watch, circa 1768.
Three cases: protective case – glazed, shagreen over brass, protective of the repoussé; outer case – repoussé in very high relief with mythological scene; and inner case – polished. White enamel dial with Roman hours, outer Dutch minute ring with Arabic five minute intervals and gold early Louis XV hands. Firegilt full plate movement with square baluster pillars, chain fusée, verge escapement and an English pierced and engraved cock.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Weight: 131 g
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Signed: William Thornton, London
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The rarity of the watch stems from the very high relief and excellent condition of the repoussé, no doubt due to the existence of the outer protective case. There are two types of repoussé techniques, one wherein the artisan hammers a single sheet of metal and eventually gets a desired motif, and another, where the desired motif is made from two or more parts soldered together. The former is restricted in depth by the malleability of the material. This watch exemplifies the second technique. The frontal figures’ depth was achieved by breaking the sheet and curving the edges thus making three dimensional images. The background is made from another piece of gold sheet with relatively shallow figures which are then soldered with the front.