Excellent English ggold half quarter repeating verge watch Circa 1740

 Museum quality pair cased pocket watch by John Ellicott
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An excellent and heavy English 22 Carat gold half quarter repeating pair cased museum quality verge pocket watch, circa 1740. Signed fire gilt full plate outstanding movement is key wind with applied engraved and florally pierced gilt and silver decorations, chain/fusee, round movement pillars, three-arm brass balance, pierced balance cock with mask and large chatoned diamond endstone and very ingenious striking train.
Gold champleve dial with Roman numerals and Arabic outer numerals, blued steel Poker & Beetle hands.
Pierced and engraved outer case with foliate scrolls and pierced and engraved inner case decorated with foliate scrolls, birds, face and view of a town, a signed silver movement protection cap, a pusher for repetition via pendant and a rear bell. A piece-button in the bezel between 5 and 6 o’clock to feel the time at night without the sound of the bell.
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Diameter: 51.5 mm
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Weight: 148 g
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Signed: John Ellicot, London
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John Ellicott, one of the most famous 18^th century English clock and watchmakers, was born in 1706 and succeeded his clockmaker father who died in 1733. He worked at 17 Sweetings Alley, Royal Exchange, London from 1728 to his death in 1772. In 1738 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and served as a Councillor for three years. Later he became clockmaker to King George III and made many fine and unusual clocks. He is probably best known for the invention of a compensated pendulum in which the bob is raised or lowered, by means of levers, to counteract the expansion or contraction of the rod. He also pushed the development of the cylinder escapement a few years after its improvement by Graham. John Ellicott took his son Edward into partnership in 1760 and the clocks and watches made after this time were signed Ellicott with no forename until circa 1769 when the signature was changed to John Ellicott and Son.
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Reference 0115000