MOVEMENT : Gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced silver balance cock. Signed “PEr. CHAPEAU, LONDON” and numbered (851). Jewelled steel coqueret to the centre of the balance cock. All in reasonable original condition and running well. There are some dents to the edges of the balance cock foot and a few extra holes in the dial plate made when the dial was replaced. The silver balance cock is beautifully engraved.

DIAL : Later white enamel dial in good condition. Just a few short and light hairlines around the edge, and a couple of small chips near the edge at 3. Nice gilt continental style hands.

INNER CASE : Heavy silver, with maker’s mark ROST. In very good condition. The hinge is fine and the bezel closes well. High dome bull’s eye crystal in good condition.

OUTER CASE : Heavy silver & brass pair case. No maker’s mark. The bezel and back are lacquered to imitate tortoiseshell, though much of this has worn off the back, revealing the brass base. Otherwise in very good condition with fine pin work and engraving, especially on the bezel.
The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut, though the catch button has worn away.

The case and dial are later than the movement, and Continental. I believe that ROST may be a Copenhagen maker, and the case and dial are typically northern European. So probably recased, with a new dial, in Denmark during the 19th century.

Peter Chapeau is listed in London from before 1726 until 1786. This movement dates from about 1740.