Enamel Cased London Verge Pocket Watch

A mid 18thc. verge in a very rare enamel case, probably made in Battersea.

MOVEMENT : The gilt movement has a verge escapement, with an engraved and pierced balance cock, showing a mask at the neck with scrolls above.
The balance cock table is pierced with a ‘lace’ edge. Four square pillars and silver regulator disk.
Signed Mitchell, London and numbered 431.
All in excellent condition, and running well.
The lace edge decoration to the balance cock was a popular form of decoration for London makers, but only used for a short period between about 1750 and 1770.

DIAL : The white enamel dial is in good condition, with no repairs or hairlines, but with some light surface scratches and a small flake at the winding aperture.

Fine blued steel beetle and poker hands in good condition.

CASE : This is a very rare enamel case, with gilt rims, and polychrome floral decoration.

The case is in good condition. The hinge and catch are fine and the bezel snaps shut correctly. The very high dome crystal is good, with just a couple of tiny chips on the edge.

The gilding is evenly worn through around the external surfaces but complete on the interior.
The enamel is generally in good condition, with a few cracks and some wear, but still retaining the beautiful decoration to the back. There are a few small areas of restoration around the rims where some damage the has been repaired using material softer than the hard glassy enamel. There is also a little damage around the catch button.

This case was probably made at Battersea in London or Bilston in the West Midlands. Both were centres of enamel production during the 18thc. A hand written label inside the case states that the watch originates from 1766, and the enamel is from Battersea,