Charleson

A GEORGE II SILVER PAIR-CASED VERGE POCKET WATCH WITH CHAMPLEVE DIAL CHARLESON, LONDON, 1735 The gilt full plate fusee movement with four square section baluster pillars pinned through the backplate, scroll-pierced stop-iron block and verge escapement regulated by sprung three-arm brass balance with Tompion type regulation, the backplate with fine symmetrical foliate strapwork scroll pierced and engraved balance cock with grotesque mask at the junction with the conforming pierced and engraved foot, flanked by silvered regulation disc set within adjacent applied scroll engraved panel infill opposing signature CHARLESON, LONDON and number 3158 , the silver champleve dial with pair of relief chased curved panels engraved CHARLESON, LONDON to the finely matted centre, within Roman numeral chapter ring incorporating relief-chased fleur-de-lys half hour markers and cartouche Arabic five minute numerals to outer track, with gilt rococo scroll chased brass hands, the inner case applied with suspension post and bow at twelve o'clock and the outer case with moulded rim to circumference, the inner marked for London 1735 maker PG . The pillar plate 3.5cm (1.375ins) diameter, the inner case 4.1cm (1.625ins) diameter; the outer case 4.8cm (1.875ins) diameter. Two watchmakers with the surname Charleson are recorded in Baillie, G.H. Watchmakers & Clockmakers of the World as working in London around this time. The first, C. Charleson, is noted from a repeating watch movement in the Buckley collection as working circa 1720; and the second, J.G. Charleson, is recorded as operating during the first half of the 18 th century.