Charles Burges, London

• gilt full plate movement, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved balance cock, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, baluster pillars • white enamel dial, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute track, gold "Louis" style hands • plain gold inner case, gold outer case, the back with enamel scene painted en grisaille depicting Hector's Farewell to Andromache on a dark chocolate coloured ground, neo-classical border with alternating white enamel roundels and stylized gold leaves against a background of translucent dark blue enamel over engine-turning, bezel decorated en suite • movement signed Chas. Burges, London, No. 210, inner case hallmarked London 1765

Christie's London, The Robert Atkinson Collection, 27th October 1953, Lot 151

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, p. 224, pl. 134

T.P & T.A. Camerer Cuss, The Camerer Cuss Book of Antique Watches, pl. 100

Homer's Iliad inspires the scene on the case back, which depicts Hector’s Farewell to Andromache during the Trojan Wars. Hector gives a fond farewell to his wife, Andromache, whilst his son (Astyanax), held by a nurse, is shown recoiling in fear from the sight of Hector’s plumed helmet. See, James Hall, Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art, 1984 p. 311. This particular depiction is almost certainly a reproduction of version of the scene painted by Angelica Kauffmann, which currently resides in the Devon Art Trust. The neo-classical border of alternate white enamel pearling and gold foliate garlands on a blue ground is an early example of this decorative style.