English verge watch with repoussé decoration Circa 1783

Gold pair cased pocket watch 
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A fine and rare English 18 carat gold pair cased verge pocket watch made by Allen Walker in London, circa 1783. The outer case in high relief depicting a classical scene from Homer’s Iliad, Chryses begging for his daughter from Agamemnon, with engraved and chased volutes and scrollwork, and a large lateral hinge, a further polished inner case with maker’s punch mark RP, possibly for Richard Pellman of Clerkenwell, and a seven-piece hinge. Signed white enamel dial with Roman hours, an outer arcaded minute track, outermost Arabic five minute numerals and gold Louis XV hands. Signed fire gilded key wind full plate movement with screwed on floral decorations, a chain and fusee, square baluster pillars, a three arm steel balance, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge with coronet, and a profile portrait of Chronos.
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Diameter: 47 mm
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Weight: 89 g
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Signed: Allen Walker
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A similar watch is illustrated in The Art of the Gold Chaser in 18th Century London by Richard Edgcumbe, Oxford 2000, ill. 26a. The motif is from a print by Cornelis van Caukercken, made from a 1660 engraving by Abraham van Diepenbeeck. Today it is held at the British Museum in London.
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Allen Walker, English watchmaker
Allen Walker lived in London from the mid 18th century until 1783. His small clocks are in the London M., Wilsdorf, Dennison and Gélis collections.
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Chryses
During the Trojan War, Agamemnon took Chryses’ daughter Chryseis as a war prize, and when Chryses attempted to ransom her, refused to return her. Chryses prayed to Apollo, and he sent a plague sweeping through the Greek armies to defend the honour of his priest. Agamemnon was forced to give Chryseis back to end it. The significance of Agamemnon’s actions lies not in his kidnapping of Chryseis, such abductions were commonplace in Ancient Greece, but in his refusal to release her upon her father’s request.