English fine gold hunting case rack lever watch Circa 1820

Fine gold hunting case rack lever watch
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An English fine gold hunting case rack lever watch, circa 1820, gilded full plate movement, Litherland’s rack lever escapement with 15 teeth to the escape wheel, balance cock decoratively engraved with flowers and foliage and marked ‘patent’, plain three-arm balance, diamond endstone, Bosley form regulation, signed Robt. Roskell, Liverpool, plain gilt metal dust cap.
Gold dial, raised polished Roman numerals against a stippled ground, engine-turned centre, two-colour gold subsidiary seconds with an engine-turned centre and matte chapter ring, pearled outer minute ring bordered with flowers and leaves in green, white and pink gold.
Substantial gold case with engine-turned covers, the back centred with a rosette, the band, pendant and bow heavily chased with shells, flowers and leaves, case hallmarked Chester 1820 and with maker’s mark T.H over J.H incuse for Thomas and John Helsby, Liverpool.
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Diameter: 55mm
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Signed: Robt. Roskell Liverpool
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By the early 1820s, gold dials were becoming increasingly fashionable and the dial on the present watch is an especially fine example, the multi-finished yellow gold surface with combinations of engine-turning and stippling enhanced with applied green, white and pink gold decoration. The case is substantial with a highly decorative, deeply cast, band, pendant and bow. Robert Roskell was active from 1798 and worked in both London and Liverpool. He is especially well-known for the quality of his rack lever watches and later for watches with Massey’s lever escapements.