William Webster, London

• gilt full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, plain flat three-arm brass balance, baluster pillars, fusee and chain • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track, blued steel beetle and poker hands • gold plain inner case • yellow gold outer case with repoussé scene depicting Odysseus appearing before Nausicaa at her father's court, a bat with outstretched wings supporting the step beneath the figures, scrolling and floral border, a snake wrapped around the thumb piece, the bezel with similar decorative border, outer shagreen protective case • gilt metal chatelaine the uppermost panel depicting Hercules with his club, with gold embossed plaques depicting Classical figures, a lion and a putto, one chain terminating in an egg-shaped vinaigrette, the vinaigrette engraved at the opening J'aime Mon Choix, the engraving heightened with white enamel (some lacking), chatelaine with maker’s mark WH for William Hunt, inner case hallmarked London 1751 and with maker's mark HR probably for Henry Rawlins, repoussé case signed Moser f • movement signed and numbered Wm Webster, Exchange Alley, 2245  

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 205, pl. 116

This lot depicts the scene of Odysseus and Nausicaa, and serves as an example of Moser’s interest in classical sources.  Moser was employed by the most highly regarded watchmakers of the time, and his relationship with Webster flourished in the 1760s and 1770s. Moser’s signature, as usual, is on the step beneath the figures and his ‘trademark’ snake is present around the push-piece. For more discussion on Moser, see lot 49.  The chatelaine is by William Hunt, a goldsmith and chatelaine maker who is known to have worked with Moser. It is, therefore, very possible that the original owner purchased the chatelaine at the same time as the watch.