A LARGE AND MAGNIFICENT SILVER TRIPLE CASED QUARTER REPEATING ALARM VERGE WATCH WITH REPOUSSE SCENE BY HENRY MANLY
1735 silver diameter including outer case 73 mm , • gilt full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved winged masked balance cock, flat steel balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, two barrels for going and alarm trains, two hammers for quarter repetition, two separate hammers for alarm, all striking a bell to the inside back • silver champlevé dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track, inner rotating disc for alarm indication • silver dust cap • silver inner case with decoratively pierced band engraved with scrolling foliage inhabited by dolphins and birds, grotesque mask to the base, two winding apertures for going and alarm trains, pulse piece in the band below 4 o'clock, large silver repoussé case signed Manly F for Henry Manly with scene depicting the Abduction of Europa, the border with four symmetrical reserves with figures representing the Four Seasons : Summer, a woman holding a sickle, Autumn, a huntress holding a bow and a deer; Winter, a winged male figure warming his hands; Spring, a woman holding a flower - the figures representing Ceres, Diana, Chronos and Flora, the corresponding reserves to the bezel chased and embossed with the Four Elements: Earth, a hare; Fire, a phoenix; Air, a bird; Water, a fish, ray skin covered protective case with decorative piqué work rosette to the centre, further decorative pin work to the bezels, repoussé case with maker's mark WK possibly William King • the unnumbered movement signed Ellicott London , silver dust cap signed Jno Ellicott Royal Exchange London
