Lot 65

John Faver, London, Movement No. 953, 51 mm, 140 g, circa 1770
A very fine quarter repeating gold Repoussé pair-cased verge pocket watch with red agate inlay
Case: outer case - gold, agate, large diamond thumbpiece. Inner case - gold, silver movement protection cap, rear bell. Dial: gold, Champlevé. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, 2 hammers, three-arm brass balance.
This exquisitely finished pocket watch boasts a wonderfully ornamented outer case. On the back is a red agate medallion surrounded by four chased heads and four animal symbols that stand for the four ages or the four seasons.
Allegories of the four seasons have always played an important role in the fine arts in Europe. They are usually arranged in a four-part cycle where the sequence of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter symbolises the eternal cycle of life mankind is subjected to – becoming and passing, growing and maturing, transience and renewal.
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jahreszeiten_%28Ikonographie%29, as of 03/29/2016
John Faver is recorded as working in London in 1753. Among his known pieces are an agate watch, and a repoussé watch in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

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