English verge with rare repousse scene, John Ellicott Circa 1729

Fine and rare verge watch with unusual repousse scene
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A very fine and rare English 22 carat gold pair cased verge watch with a very unusual repousse scene of a music band, circa 1729. Fire gilded full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved masked balance cock with foliage, plain flat balance, fusee and chain with worm and wheel barrel set-up between the plates, square pillars.
White enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, steel beetle and poker hands.
Plain gold inner case, the back with winding aperture, outer with repoussé scene depicting a music band.
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Diameter: 50 mm
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Weight:118 g
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Signed: Jho Ellicott 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 0035000