262 - John Ellicott - The Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba

John Ellicott - The Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba A magnificent London pair-cased half-quarter repeating pocket watch with a cylinder escapement, date, and "repoussé" decoration Movement No. 3722, Case No. 3722, Dimensions 51 mm, circa 1753, Weight 140 g, Origin England Case: Outer case—18K gold, repoussé decoration, chased Old Testament scene in high relief depicting “The Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba,” openwork edge. Inner case—18K gold, openwork edges, engraved with scrolls, a mask, and a landscape; rear bell; movement protection cap. Dial: Enamel dial with Arabic minute markers and Roman hour markers surrounding the date ring; the date is indicated by a coiled serpent on the central disk. Movement: Full-plate movement, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, three-arm steel balance. The reverse side of the outer case, chased in high relief, depicts the Old Testament scene of the Meeting of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba within a cartouche. Outside the cartouche are pierced, chased, and engraved sections between four vignettes depicting four mythological deities: Apollo with a lyre, Cronus with a scythe, Minerva with a column and a sword, and Hercules with a club and a lion’s skin. The bezel is pierced, chased, and engraved, and features panels with cherub heads, a crown, and musical instruments. The inner case is openwork and engraved. It is decorated with volutes and acanthus scrolls. At the 6 and 12 o’clock positions, there are two cartouches featuring an engraved mascaron and a landscape with houses. John Ellicott (1706–1791) was one of the most eminent English watch- and clockmakers; he established his business around 1728 and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1738. Ellicott was the inventor of a compensation pendulum and paid close attention to the use of the cylinder escapement just a few years after Graham had improved it. In some of his later pieces, the cylinders were made of ruby. Case: very good. Dial: good, with hairline scratches. Movement: to be restored.