SUMMARY:
A stunning solid 18k gold early-19th century verge chain driven fusee pair-case pocket watch with the owner, William Mann living in Orford (Suffolk), fully serviced, overhauled and keeping good verge time. The watch has been fully serviced and overhauled by my watch maker, and is keeping good verge time. The watch comes from a private collection where it has clearly been looked after. Watches from this period with the fire-gilding to the watch movement and cases in such bright condition are very uncommon and with a large balance cock foot.
This is a beautifully made English key-wound man's verge pocket watch, dating from 1814, from the Regency period complete with several period watch papers.The watch is in full working order and comes complete with a key for winding and presentation box. The buy it now price is a clear reflection of the incredible rarity, stunning condition and long-term investment for this watch. Mint watches in this condition, can only rise in value, given the limited supply of such items. We are a Platinium eBay Power-Seller, so please bid with confidence.
While Napoleon Bonaparte provided rich fodder for caricaturists throughout his reign, his exile to the Island of Elba in 1814, occasioned a burst of gleeful activity among the cartoonists of the time. England had been fighting against France for over 20 years. Audiences there were jubilant about Napoleon’s defeat and receptive to anything that made fun of the fallen French Emperor.
Published in England in May 1814, this caricature shows Napoleon seated backwards on a donkey on the road from Fontainebleau (where he signed his abdication) to Elba. The promenades des anes p was a traditional method of social punishment in France. Husbands who were thought to be battered or dominated by their wives were publicly humiliated by being trotted around backwards on a donkey while holding its tail. The text emerging from Napoleon’s mouth is one of his well known quotes., A throne is only made of wood and cover’d in velvet.
The donkey’s rear says: The greatest events in human life is turn’d to a puff. The saddle reads: Materials for the history of my life and exploits and A budget of mathematical books for my study at Elba.
The signpost shows to the left to Elba and backwards to Fontanibleu in France, with Napoleon escorted by two drummers, his sword of authority broken like a toy and all his self given medals and honours removed from his great coat.
UNUSUAL FEATURES: The watch in simply magnificent condition and from a private collection where it has clearly been looked after very well. Watches from this period with no pin holes, excess solder filling or stretch marks are very uncommon today. The movement with fine ballustar pillars and equally superbly made period shands. The watch is very handsome piece indeed and further complimented by very fine condition cases. The watch is best described as a time-capsule from the 18th century in simply stunning condition.
THE DIAL: 98% mint, the coloured enamel dial with black Roman numerals in stunning condition with no chips and a few faint edge hairlines. Finely made gold spade hands, a work of art to see, beautifully cut and polished. The bullseye glass in fine condition. Diameter is 44 mm.
THE MOVEMENT: 100% mint, with richly gilded full plate in wonderful condition. The well engraved and carved rococo style balance cock and large foot in superb condition with gilded brass end-bouchon to the balance cock foot with beautifully engraved roccocco design. The back plate with further gilded decoration and finely made brass time regulator plate with finely pierced and decorated additional plate. The watch is keywind, comes with a key and is ticking very strongly indeed and movement size is 41 mm diameter.
The movement with round ballustar pillars. Polished steel movement bolt with its original blued steel ornate screw. Pierced gilded fusee stop work with iron hinge. The movement with several high quality features. These consist of the fusee ratchet on the outside of the fusee, the third wheel is positioned at the top of the movement and the mainspring setup is under the barrel via a worm and ratchet and a highly decorative and carved case spring. The screws are original, and the gilding is still bright and fresh.
7THE CASE: 99% mint, the solid 18k gold outer case measures 55 mm outside diameter. The matching inner case measures 48 mm and with a few fine patination marks as shown. The five knuckle square outer case hinge is excellent with the case closing tight and like-wise the inner case hinge also closes tight. The 18k gold inner case with Chester hall-marks clearly visible, with case maker mark of JW. The pendant and d-shaped bow, in superb condition, the case button lightly worn as normally found. The outer case with no holes or any damage. The surface is complete and in very fine and bright condition. The cases of heavy gauge and a good weight and feel in the pocket.
The watch comes with three period watch makers papers dating from 1836 through to 1893 and these have the owners name, William Mann of Orford. Clearly, the watch stayed close to home for a long period of time. This is a very fine Regency period antique in simply stunning condition, which is a very rare collectable item or a possible investment for the future or of course a fine gift for a birthday, anniversary, wedding etc.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS:
Please note, the magnified electronic images show detail much greater than would be visible with the naked eye. Any dark areas or marks on highly polished surfaces are almost certainly reflections from the camera or lighting equipment. If there are any marks or dents of any note, these will be mentioned in the description. All of our watches have been fully cleaned and serviced by a professional watch-maker unless not stated on the auction and the time-keeping carefully checked. We are happy to give a 3 month warranty on this work, which is thoroughly checked, and all watches are also given a 24 hour check prior to being shipped. We are here to help and ensure that our good eBay reputation is enhanced and this eBay shop becomes one of your favourite places to purchase watches.
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