John Ellicott, London

• gilt full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved winged masked balance cock, flat steel balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, cylindrical pillars, two barrels for going and alarm trains, two hammers for quarter repetition, two separate hammers for alarm, all striking a bell to the inside back • silver champlevé dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track, inner rotating disc for alarm indication • silver dust cap • silver inner case with decoratively pierced band engraved with scrolling foliage inhabited by dolphins and birds, grotesque mask to the base, two winding apertures for going and alarm trains, pulse piece in the band below 4 o'clock, large silver repoussé case signed Manly F for Henry Manly with scene depicting the Abduction of Europa, the border with four symmetrical reserves with figures representing the Four Seasons: Summer, a woman holding a sickle, Autumn, a huntress holding a bow and a deer; Winter, a winged male figure warming his hands; Spring, a woman holding a flower - the figures representing Ceres, Diana, Chronos and Flora, the corresponding reserves to the bezel chased and embossed with the Four Elements: Earth, a hare; Fire, a phoenix;  Air, a bird;  Water, a fish, ray skin covered protective case with decorative piqué work rosette to the centre, further decorative pin work to the bezels, repoussé case with maker's mark WK possibly William King • the unnumbered movement signed Ellicott London, silver dust cap signed Jno Ellicott Royal Exchange London

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 193, pl. 105

The repoussé scene to the middle case is an exceptionally fine example of embossed and chased work. It is particularly notable that the scene is executed in silver, since very few silver repoussé cases were made to such a high standard or, indeed, in such a large size. The scene is signed by one of the greatest of workers in this medium, Henry Manly (1698-c.1773). Manly was one of the 18^th century’s finest repoussé workers and came from a family steeped in the traditions of metal working - both his father and grandfather were silversmiths. Born in Augsburg, Manly moved to London, settling initially in Westminster in the 1720s, where he married Sarah Brawne in 1733, and later living in Knightsbridge. For a biography and detailed examination of his work see Richard Edgcumbe, The Art of the Gold Chaser, pp. 70-83. 

It has been confirmed by Dr. Richard Edgcumbe that this is the largest recorded watch case signed by Manly and the only one in silver. Dr. Edgcumbe has identified the scene as the Abduction of Europa (Jupiter is seen disguised as a bull by the seashore) which, taking into account substantial changes made by Manly, he suggests is from an engraving by Michel Dorigny (1617-1655) after Simon Vouet (1590-1649).