Beschreibung:

A George II gold pair-cased pocket watch with champleve dial and repousse outer case James Chater, London, circa 1739; the outer case decoration possibly by Augustin Heckel The gilt full plate single fusee verge movement with four square baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and later conversion to English lever escapement regulated by sprung three-arm balance with Tompion type adjustment and ruby cabochon endstone, the backplate with fine symmetrical foliate scroll pierced and engraved balance cock with faceted bright-cut rim and grotesque mask at the junction of the conforming pierced broad foot flanked by silvered regulation disc with adjacent applied scroll pierced infill opposing signature Jam’s Chater, LONDON, 4989, fitted with circular gold champleve dial with ribbon panel signature banners engraved CHATER, LONDON to the scroll decorated matted centre within Roman numeral chapter ring with fluer-de-lys half hour markers and Arabic lozenge five minute numerals to outer track, with blued steel beetle and poker hands, the plain inner case indistinctly stamped probably with date letter d for 1739 and indistinct maker's mark R.D(?). to interior, fitted with convex glass and suspension post with pivoted scroll handle, the outer case decorated in relief with scene traditionally entitled Roman Charity depicting Cimon been suckled by Pero within a quartered scroll surround and alternating panels of musical and martial trophies within a foliate decorated matted field, the hinged retaining bezel similarly decorated, the pillar plate 36mm (1.375ins) diameter, the outer case 49mm (1.875ins) diameter overall. Provenance: Private collection, Hampshire (ref. C27); purchased at Phillip’s, London, 26th June 2001 (lot 167) for £1,400 hammer. James Chater senior is recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as being admitted to the Clockmakers' Company 1718, gaining his freedom in 1726 and died 1762, Baillie describes him as an 'eminent' maker. He had two sons James junior (admitted 1746, free 1753, worked until 1785) and Eliezer (free 1751, Liveryman 1766, Master 1772, died 1777). James and Eliezer are thought to have worked with their father from 1753-62, after which the firm was continued as a partnership between the two brothers. The layout of the decoration to the rear of the outer case of the current lot can be closely compared to an example by Augustin Heckel illustrated in Edgcumbe, Richard THE ART OF THE GOLD CHASER IN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY LONDON Figures 38a-f. In particular the quartering of the cartouche and delicate form of scrollwork forming the inner border together with the symmetrical leafy scrolls dividing the pictorial panels beyond is very similar in their execution. The scene depicts Pero suckling her father Cimon secretly whilst visiting him prison prior to his martyrdom, which, since the Renaissance, had often been depicted with the symbolic title Roman Charity. Edgcumbe notes (pages 57-66) that two books of designs for Heckel’s chasing survive, one at Yale, the other in The Victoria and Albert Museum. The latter includes a design entitled Roman Charity as engraved by Jacques Philippe Le Bas after an original work by Noel-Nicholas Coypel. Although the scene depicted in the current lot varies somewhat from the original by N. N. Coypel Edcumbe notes (on page 58) that Heckel often made ‘substantial changes’ to those drawn in his design books. Augustin Heckel was a German émigré who is thought to have arrived in London (from Augsburg) between 1715 and 1720. He is believed to have retired to Richmond in around 1746 and died in 1770. It is likely that he was succeeded by his cousin, Christopher Heckel, whose surviving work suggests that the latter only worked with silver. Condition report disclaimer