English gold duplex made for the Chinese market Circa 1795

Gold duplex with centre seconds
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A magnificent English 18 carat gold and enamel centre seconds pocket watch, circa 1795. Made for the Chinese Market. A polished, solid case with split pearl set bezels and pendants, the backs of green translucent enamel over engine turning, with split pearl set border and hinged gilt brass cuvettes. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, outer minute and seconds ring and gold arrow hands. Gilt brass, fully chased movement with scrolling foliage decoration, Chinese calibre drawn from that of Lepine with free standing barrel, duplex escapement, plain flat five arm polished steel balance with flat balance spring and diamond end stone. Hack feature at 2 o’clock. Signed and numbered on the cuvette.
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Diameter: 64 mm
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Signed: William Anthony  London
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William Anthony was born about 1765. William Anthony worked in Red Lion Street, St John’s Square, Clerkenwell, where he made high class, decorative watches for the Chinese market. Characteristic of his production are watches with oval dials and hands which are jointed to adjust automatically to the changing radius of the dial as they travel round. As a successful tradesman, Anthony played an active part in the founding of the Watch- and Clockmakers’ Benevolent Association in 1815, but thereafter suffered a series of losses following unsuccessful litigation with Grimaldi & Johnson and an ill-fated attempt to set up a commercial exhibition in the Somerset Gallery, Strand, of Commonwealth and Stuart costume displayed on wax models. He died in straitened circumstances in 1844.