John Ellicott, London

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, decoratively pierced and engraved masked balance cock inhabited by dolphins’ heads, plain flat balance, diamond endstone, fusee and chain, regulation indicated by an engraved hand pointing to the regulator plate, square pillars flanked by scrollwork • gilt metal dust cap, movement and dust cap signed and numbered Ellicott, London, 4313
• Dial: white enamel, Roman numerals, outer Arabic minute ring, gold filigree hands
• Cases: plain gold inner, the back with winding aperture, hallmarked London 1756 and with maker's mark JB incuse for possibly John Barrow or John Beesley and numbered 4313 • outer with repoussé scene depicting the Continence of Scipio within an asymmetric cartouche surrounded by shell and scroll work interspersed with flowers against a stippled ground, the bezel similarly decorated, repoussé signed Manly fec

Terence Camerer Cuss, The English Watch 1585-1970, 2009, p. 209, pl. 120
Richard Edgcumbe, The Art of the Gold Chaser, 2000, pp. 75-76 & fig. 62  

Movement not running at the time of cataloguing. Dial with hairline cracks, hands in good condition though maybe later. Inner case with scuffs throughout as to be expected, outer case remains clear and defined, repousse with significant detail.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping."

The scene of the Continence of Scipio is one that Manly returned to on a few occasions for John Ellicott, and Ellicott numbers 3033, 3822 and 4297 all bear the scene with similar scrollwork decoration. In his book, The Art of the Gold Chaser, Richard Edgcumbe notes that Manly may have been influenced by Pietro da Cortona’s decoration in the Sala di Venere of Florence’s Pitti Palace for the figures of Scipio and the bride. The Continence of Scipio is the story of clemency shown by the Roman General Scipio Africanus Major the Elder (c. 234-183 B.C.)  Scipio received a beautiful maiden as a prize of war following his capture of the Spanish city of New Carthage. Upon learning that the maiden was betrothed, Scipio summoned her fiancé and reunited the pair unharmed. [See: James Hall, Dictionary of Subjects and Symbols in Art, 1993, p.275]. In the repoussé scene, Scipio is shown seated with the reunited bride and groom kneeling at his feet.  

Henry Manly, active between 1730 and 1760, was a celebrated engraver and chaser. For a discussion of Manly's work, see Richard Edgcumbe, The Art of the Gold Chaser, pp. 70-83.

John Ellicott, one of the most famous 18^th century English clock and watch makers, was born in 1706 and succeeded his clockmaker father who died  in 1733. He worked at 17 Sweetings Alley, Royal Exchange , London from 1728 to his death in 1772. In 1738 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and served as a Councillor for three years. Later he became clockmaker to King George III and made many fine and unusual clocks. He is probably best known for the invention of a compensated pendulum in which the bob is raised or lowered, by means of levers, to counteract the expansion or contraction of the rod. John Ellicott took his son Edward into partnership in 1760 and the clocks and watches made after this time were signed Ellicott with no forename until circa 1769 when the signature was changed to John Ellicott & Son.