Lot 455

Ja(me)s Rousseau, London, Movement No. 5155, 52 mm, 123 g, circa 1760
A fine pair-cased verge pocket watch with half-quarter repetition and "repoussé" decoration
Case: outer case - silver, "repoussé" decoration Roman soldiers, around the edge open work decoration. Inner case - silver, richly florally engraved, around the edge open work decoration, rear bell. Dial: silver champlevé. Movm.: fine full plate movement, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, three-arm brass balance.
This exquisite pocket watch has a very ornamental outer case of supreme haptic quality. The back is decorated with an intricately chased scene showing Roman soldiers. The figures have a striking presence against the background and seem almost three-dimensional.
The open-work inner case is ornamented with exquisite floral engraving. The bell has a fine clear sound of the half-quarter repeater.
Unfortunately the trade literature holds hardly any information on James Rousseau except for noting that he was active in London between 1743 and 1761. It is likely, however, that he was a descendant of the renowned watchmaking dynasty Rousseau of Geneva.

Sold