English gold quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch Circa 1830

Gold, enamel and pearl pocket watch
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An extremely fine English 18K gold and enamel, pearl-set quarter repeating pocket watch, circa 1830. A hinged bezel set with pearls, hinged back with pearl-set, finely painted with a scene of a young couple dressed as a shepherd in landscape and multi-coloured border, hinged engraved gilt cuvette. White enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, subsidiary seconds and gilt Breguet hands. Gilt-brass, full plate movement with cylindrical pillars, going barrel, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Repeating on a bell by depressing the pendant. Signed on the movement.
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Diameter: 52 mm
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Thickness: 22 mm
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Signed: Ilbery   London
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William Ilbery, circa 1760-1839, was active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. After James Cox in London and Jaquet-Droz in Switzerland, he also specialized in producing luxury watches for the Chinese market. His early production was very much in the English style, featuring a full plate movement and an English-type single-wheel duplex escapement. However, for his highest-quality watches, he incorporated a spring detent escapement. Later, the watch movements he produced were much inspired by the Lépine calibre with a free-standing barrel, as were Jaquet-Droz’s Swiss production signed in London and that of William Anthony, who worked in London.
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The cases of his watches were sumptuously decorated by the best Genevan enamellers, such as Jean-Francois-Victor Dupont, who usually signed his work, and Jean-Louis Richter, who signed rarely. He organized the production in Switzerland, mainly in Fleurier, of profusely engraved movements for the Asian market. He was followed in this by makers such as Bovet and Juvet who also worked in Fleurier (Val de Travers). Ilbery can therefore be considered one of the most representative makers of ‘Chinese’ watches. He seems to have maintained close contacts with the continental trade since a watch signed ‘Ilbery Paris’ is known while Ilbery & Son are recorded in London and Fleurier, as well as in Canton.