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Anonymous, French, forger (19th Century)
Elongated octagonal gold, enamel and rock crystal cased verge watch

, 19th century (1801 - 1900)

case; gold with enamel; enamelled in colours, rock crystal dial; gold, enamel movement; gilt-brass

case 47 mm length case 26.15 mm width case 23 mm thickness movement 21.7 mm length movement 19 mm width movement 5.8 mm pillar height

Case: Elongated octagonal rock-crystal cased with gold rims enamelled in colours. Gold and enamel pendant. No case catch intended. Dial: Oval gold and enamel dial. Movement: Oval gilt-brass plates with four baluster pillars. Mainspring barrel with ratchet and click set-up. Fusee with gut line and standard stop-work; three wheel train, the second wheel un-gilded; verge escapement, the verge and balance not original. The crown wheel runs in a screwed-on counter-potence. The movement is unsigned but has an engraved foliate motif where the signature is normally found. Notes: The enamel decoration on the case rims and dial is not applied in the manner of the champlevé technique but is simply floated onto the surface. In addition to this, the rim does not completely enclose the rock-crystal but is attached by pins. Also the pendant was designed to be held in place by a transverse pin which passed through the case collar and the pendant but this pinning system was never completed. With all these aspects taken into consideration, as well as the general appearance of the unsigned movement, the conclusion has to be that the whole object is a modern fabrication.

Thompson (2007)

Bequeathed by J. Francis Mallett, 1947.

WA1947.191.25

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