Rare center seconds watch for the Chinese market Circa 1790

Gold, enamel and pearl-set cylinder watch by John Kenebel
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A fine, rare English gold, enamel and pearl- set manually wound centre seconds pocket watch with verre églomisé made for the Chinese market, circa 1790. Gilt-brass movement, Gregson type calibre, entirely engraved and pierced plate, cylinder escapement, plain five-armed steel balance, blued steel flat balance spring, diamond endstone. White enamel dial with Roman numerals, Arabic quarter-hour numerals and gold arrow hands. Bezels set with half pearls, the enamelled pendant also set with matching half pearls, concealed hinges, gilt glazed cuvette mounted to the movement ring, reverse with a blue translucent enamel over engine turning and a polychrome enamel pastoral scene of a young flautist serenading a shepherdess in the countryside. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 58 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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Verre églomisé is a French term referring to the process of applying both a design and gilding onto the rear face of glass to produce a mirror finish.