Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces
Hong Kong, Jul 23, 2020
LOT 43
Samuel Atkins – George Michael Moser
Impressive repoussé pair-case pocket watch; 22K yellow gold
Impressive repoussé pair-case pocket watch; 22K yellow gold
HKD 300,000 - 400,000
CHF 36,600 - 48,800 / USD 38,700 - 51,600
“Orpheus Charming the Animals”
22K yellow gold, pair-cased open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch with repoussé-work depicting “The Orpheus Myth”.
Outer case chased and engraved repoussé-work, signed “Moser f [ecit]” at the feet of the central figure; symmetrical elaborate volute and foliage repoussé-work border to the main scene which depicts a young musician playing a lyre, probably Orpheus, surrounded by animals (on the left, a bird, a stag, a wolf, a leopard and a boar, and the left, a lion, a lamb, a dog and a hare); outside the border, a frieze of small landscapes and buildings; large lateral hinge.
Inner case unusually decorated with foliate engraving around the edge, a grotesque mask at the base and small scene around the pendant; in the centre, a bird of paradise perched in reeds surrounded by a symmetrical border; inside, case-maker’s mark “E B” surmounted by a fleur-de-lys (possibly Edward Bradshaw or Edward Branstone Bayley, London).
White enamel dial with suspended Arabic numerals, with, inside, a fine decorative line; gold “Beetle & Poker” hands.
Movement 16’’’, full plate, fire gilded brass, engraved with foliate decoration, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic three-arm balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded English cock with mascaron, large diamond end-stone in a polished steel setting, silver regulator disc; silver dust ring.
22K yellow gold, pair-cased open-face, key-winding, round-shaped, pocket watch with repoussé-work depicting “The Orpheus Myth”.
Outer case chased and engraved repoussé-work, signed “Moser f [ecit]” at the feet of the central figure; symmetrical elaborate volute and foliage repoussé-work border to the main scene which depicts a young musician playing a lyre, probably Orpheus, surrounded by animals (on the left, a bird, a stag, a wolf, a leopard and a boar, and the left, a lion, a lamb, a dog and a hare); outside the border, a frieze of small landscapes and buildings; large lateral hinge.
Inner case unusually decorated with foliate engraving around the edge, a grotesque mask at the base and small scene around the pendant; in the centre, a bird of paradise perched in reeds surrounded by a symmetrical border; inside, case-maker’s mark “E B” surmounted by a fleur-de-lys (possibly Edward Bradshaw or Edward Branstone Bayley, London).
White enamel dial with suspended Arabic numerals, with, inside, a fine decorative line; gold “Beetle & Poker” hands.
Movement 16’’’, full plate, fire gilded brass, engraved with foliate decoration, turned baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, monometallic three-arm balance (gilded brass) and blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded English cock with mascaron, large diamond end-stone in a polished steel setting, silver regulator disc; silver dust ring.
| Grading System | |
|---|---|
Grade: |
|
Case: 2 |
Very good |
Movement: 2* |
Very good Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense |
Dial: 3-01 |
Good HANDS Original |
Brand Samuel Atkins and George Michael Moser, London
Year circa 1744
Movement No. 1 431
Caliber 16’’’, verge escapement
Dimensions Ø 51 mm. / Depth 14.5 mm. / Weight (gross) 129 gr
Notes
This very fine and important watch is an early example of Moser’s work made in the same year as a case made for a repeating watch signed by George Graham (1673-1751), which Richard Edgcumbe lists as No. 4.
The scene seems to be a representation of one of the passages from the myth of Orpheus, where we see Orpheus charming the wild beasts with his lyre.
We can also see there a visualisation of a passage from chapter 11 (6,7) of Isaiah, which would be at the origin of the sentence “The lion and the lamb will lie down together” or “The lion and the lamb shall lay down together”:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
Unlike most of Moser’s work this case graces the movement from a lesser known watchmaker. Other examples house movements by eminent watchmakers of the period such as George Graham (1673-1751), Daniel Delander (c.1678-1733) and his son Nathaniel (II) Delander, John Ellicott (1706-1772), Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) or Benjamin Vulliamy (1747-1811).
It is also most unusual for the inner case to be engraved on a timepiece. The London casemaker can be either Edward Bradshaw or Edward Branstone Bayley.
Atkins, Samuel (1697-1768)
Watchmaker active in London at Palgrave Court, Temple Bar. He is at the base of one of the largest and most important families of London watchmakers. He is the father of Robert Atkins who succeeds him at 20 Salisbury Street, Strand.He is also probably the father of Francis Atkins (1730-1809), apprentice in 1746 (to Joshua Hassell), admitted to the Clockmaker’s Company in 1759, Warden in 1777-1779, Master in 1780. Francis’ son, George Atkins (1767- 1855) is admitted to the Freedom of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1788 and put on livery same year. He succeeds his father as Clerk to the Company in 1809 and held this office for 31 years. He is Warden in 1842-1844. At the time of his death, he had been connected with the Company for 67 years. He is associated with the Brockbanks of London. This firm was created by brothers John (1747-1806) and Myles (1754-1821) Brockbanks and continued by William Brockbank (1777-1822), John’s son, then Samuel Elliot Atkins (1807-1898), George’s son, and Charles Edward Atkins (1854-1933), Samuel Elliot’s son. Coming from two great families of watchmakers, they form one of the leading chronometer and watchmaking companies in London (along with Arnold, Earnshaw and Pennington), active from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century
The scene seems to be a representation of one of the passages from the myth of Orpheus, where we see Orpheus charming the wild beasts with his lyre.
We can also see there a visualisation of a passage from chapter 11 (6,7) of Isaiah, which would be at the origin of the sentence “The lion and the lamb will lie down together” or “The lion and the lamb shall lay down together”:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.”
Unlike most of Moser’s work this case graces the movement from a lesser known watchmaker. Other examples house movements by eminent watchmakers of the period such as George Graham (1673-1751), Daniel Delander (c.1678-1733) and his son Nathaniel (II) Delander, John Ellicott (1706-1772), Thomas Mudge (1715-1794) or Benjamin Vulliamy (1747-1811).
It is also most unusual for the inner case to be engraved on a timepiece. The London casemaker can be either Edward Bradshaw or Edward Branstone Bayley.
Atkins, Samuel (1697-1768)
Watchmaker active in London at Palgrave Court, Temple Bar. He is at the base of one of the largest and most important families of London watchmakers. He is the father of Robert Atkins who succeeds him at 20 Salisbury Street, Strand.He is also probably the father of Francis Atkins (1730-1809), apprentice in 1746 (to Joshua Hassell), admitted to the Clockmaker’s Company in 1759, Warden in 1777-1779, Master in 1780. Francis’ son, George Atkins (1767- 1855) is admitted to the Freedom of the Clockmaker’s Company in 1788 and put on livery same year. He succeeds his father as Clerk to the Company in 1809 and held this office for 31 years. He is Warden in 1842-1844. At the time of his death, he had been connected with the Company for 67 years. He is associated with the Brockbanks of London. This firm was created by brothers John (1747-1806) and Myles (1754-1821) Brockbanks and continued by William Brockbank (1777-1822), John’s son, then Samuel Elliot Atkins (1807-1898), George’s son, and Charles Edward Atkins (1854-1933), Samuel Elliot’s son. Coming from two great families of watchmakers, they form one of the leading chronometer and watchmaking companies in London (along with Arnold, Earnshaw and Pennington), active from the end of the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century