The outer case of this watch is in wonderful condition with a central rosette and radiating foliage that is perhaps reminiscent of a chrysanthemum. Ellicott appears to have used this design of outer case on a number of his watches. A similar example in gold, Ellicott no. 5738, was sold at Sotheby’s London, 14
th July 2011, lot 226. Another example, but in a silver case, Ellicott no. 4887, is illustrated in:
The Camerer Cuss book of Antique Watches, p. 125, pl. 63. Interestingly, in his book
The Art of the Gold Chaser, Richard Edgcumbe illustrates and describes Ellicott no. 5936 which is hallmarked for 1767 and which features a repoussé case that again bears similarities in design to the present watch and which is attributed to George Michael Moser (see op. cit. p. 131 & fig 122).
For a note on Ellicott, see lot 33.