Silver repousse pair with calendar dial

A large, early 18thc. calendar verge, in exceptionally good overall condition.

MOVEMENT : An unusual gilded movement with four wonderfully ornate pillars. The beautifully pieced and engraved balance bridge is decorated with birds, scrolls and foliage. Clean blued steel screws. The plate is further decorated with an ornate silver rim.

The movement is signed CHENEVIERE, LONDON.

In excellent condition, and running well. Just one of the ornate pillars (near the main spring barrel) shows signs of an old repair (traces of solder).

The date function is complete and works correctly.

DIAL : A fine signed silver champleve dial. In very good condition throughout.

The central disk is signed CHENEVIERE, LONDON, with the date aperture below.

Very nice, early blued steel beetle and poker hands, in excellent condition.

INNER CASE : A silver case, with no hallmarks but worn maker’s mark stamped twice.

In good condition though the bow has been replaced. There is some wear around the hinge, but the bezel snaps shut nicely. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is good, though with one small chip on the edge, almost hidden by the bezel.

OUTER CASE : A quite heavy and fine silver repousse case. Again no hallmarks.
The bezel is decorated with scrolls and baskets of fruit, while the back has a scene depicting Alexander the Great and Diogenes, surrounded by a border of scrolls and cartouches with animals and birds.

The silver is in good condition, with just a little wear to the high points of the repousse work. The catch steel spring has the end inside the case broken off, but the catch is still strong and the bezel snaps shut nicely. The catch button and hinge are fine.

The unusual movement has a balance bridge, rather than a balance cock, and the spiral pattern decorating the bridge is very similar to that seen on Dutch watches of the period. However the dial is typically English.

Chenevier is listed in London, at the end of 17thc.