BUSHMAN, LONDON | A RARE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL GOLD SINGLE CASED REPOUSSE VERGE WATCH WITH ADAM AND EVE AUTOMATACIRCA 1700

• Movement: gilded full plate, verge escapement, rounded baluster pillars, the backplate mounted with a chased and engraved gold panel depicting the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden, the figures of Adam and Eve and the apples applied in carved ivory, the serpent heightened with enamel decoration travelling around the circumference of the scene, rounded baluster pillars, fusee and chain, signed Bushman, London, gilt-metal movement cap with large framed aperture to reveal automata scene, the aperture surrounded by a floral wreath heightened with green enamel• Dial: gold champlevé, Roman numerals with half hour divisions between and to the ring below, outer Arabic minute ring, aperture for winding and blued steel regulation disc, blued steel beetle and poker hands, the centre with banners signed Bvshma [sic], London• Case: gold single case, large glazed aperture to the back revealing the automata, the bezels with scenes representing the four seasons and the four ages of man, each scene separated by decorative faceted paste stones, later bow

The case back of this watch has a most unusual automata which is connected directly to the watch movement. As the watch runs, so the serpent moves around the border of green foliage to the edge of the scene. Adam and Eve are shown standing before the tree of life whilst Eve picks the forbidden fruit. Further symbolism is included in the scenes to both bezels which are chased and engraved with pictorial representations of the different seasons and ages of man. For a note on Bushman, see lot 44.