English gold oval-shaped centre seconds cylinder Circa 1800

Gold, enamel and pearl-set open faced watch by John Kenebel
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Rare, large and impressive English gold, enamel and pearl-set oval-shaped open faced manually wound centre seconds pocket watch, circa 1800. Oval-shaped gilt-finished cylinder movement, finely chased and engraved bridges and barrel, diamond endstone. Finely engraved gold cuvette. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, centre seconds and painted polychrome enamel floral decoration to both ends. Case with pearl-set bezel, pendant and rim, the back with a polychrome enamel scene after the painting Evening by William Hamilton in the manner of Jean Abraham Lissignol. Case stamped with case maker’s initials GR, movement signed and numbered.
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Dimensions: 56 x 91 mm
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Signed: John Kenebel Frith Street Soho London
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John Kenebel (also Knobel, Kenable or Kenabel), Frith Street, Soho, London is not recorded in any of the standard lists of watchmakers’ names which is unsurprising on account of the fact that watches bearing his signature are rare and he was technically a jeweller as is stated in his will: “This is the last will and testament of Mr Jean Louis Knobel at times called John Kenebel of Frith Street in the parish of St. Anne, Soho…..Jeweller…..”. The bequests to his sister in Nyon and others in his will would point to him having been born in Switzerland. Most, if not all of his known work is clearly made for export to the Chinese Market. Kenebel died in July 1810.
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William Hamilton (1751–1801) was an English painter and illustrator. Hamilton was born in Chelsea, London, but travelled and worked in Italy with Antonio Zucchi for several years. He trained first as an architectural draftsman but soon moved to theatrical portraits and scenes from plays. Hamilton became an associate member of the Royal Academy in 1784 and was made a full member in 1789. 
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Jean Abraham Lissignol was a Swiss painter, revolutionary and one of the finest enamellers of his time. He was born in Geneva on May 7th, 1749 and died in Plainpalais on June 28th, 1819. He was the pupil of Jean-Marc Roux and later became his partner. Specialized in snuff boxes and watch cases, he worked for Jaquet-Droz & Leschot, the Rochat Brothers and John Rich.