Property of a Swiss collector William Ilbery (ca. 1760-1839) - Active in London from 1780 in Goswell Street, he moved to Duncan Terrace towards the end of the 18th century. Following JAMES COX in London and JAQUET DROZ in Switzerland, he also came to specialize in the production of luxury watches for the Chinese Market. His early production was very much in the English style, featuring a full plate movement and an English type single wheel duplex escapement. However, for his highest quality watches, he incorporated a spring detent escapement. Later, the watch movements he produced were greatly inspired by the Lepine caliber with free-standing barrel, as were Jaquet Droz's Swiss production signed in London and those of WILLIAM ANTHONY, who worked in London. Often found ornamented with rural, floral or landscape scenes, this is the only example sold by Antiquorum that features paillonne enamelled decoration, a technique introduced by Jaquet Droz as early as 1775. The peacock pattern was very popular in China, but scarcely used for the European Market. The peacock enamel decoration gives the viewer a mesmerising view of changing colours and light reflections depending on the angle: just like the real feathers of the majestic bird. Bought by the actual owner in the 1986 April 13th Antiquorum sale in Geneva, it has remained untouched and unused since that date.