English gold verge with high relief repousse scene Circa 1761

Fine gold verge with high relief repousse scene
–
An English fine gold pair cased verge watch with high relief repousse scene, circa 1761,  gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, plain flat balance, fusee and chain, square baluster pillars, movement signed Ja. Grantham, London.
White enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer arcaded Arabic minute ring, blued steel beetle and poker hands.
Plain gold inner case with London, case maker’s mark IW incuse possibly for either John Watkins or John Wright, outer case with high relief repoussé scene depicting the Continence of Scipio within an asymmetrical cartouche, the bezels interspersed with flowers, foliage and scroll work against a stippled ground, case maker’s mark IW incuse possibly for either John Watkins or John Wright.
–
Diameter: 48 mm
–
Signed: Ja. Grantham London
–
The repoussé scene is rendered in especially high relief and appears to be made from a single sheet of gold; repoussé watches with very high relief often have additional plates added since the depth of the relief can result in the metal becoming too thin and fragile. Given the pronounced, raised surface of the case back, the condition and definition of the scene on the present watch is especially remarkable. The scene depicts the Continence of Scipio and shows Scipio returning his prize of war, a beautiful maiden, unharmed to her fiancé. Another version of this scene by Henry Manly, (Ellicott 4313) depicts the maiden standing. Interestingly another repoussé watch with very high relief, also by J. Grantham and hallmarked for the same year as the present watch, 1761, is in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.