Lot Essay
For similar watch-stands see Reginald Blunt (Ed.), The Cheyne Book of Chelsea China and Pottery, pl. 10, no. 119 and Dr. Bellamy Gardener, Connoisseur, March 1923, p. 153, pl. 11
THE PROPERTY OF A GENTLEMAN
A CHELSEA ARCHITECTURAL WATCH-STAND representing the Dawn of Day, modelled as a rococo fountain with a balustrade to one side enriched with gilding, moulded and applied with coloured reeds and flowers and with a sphinx, hound and three ducks, two scantily draped putti seated and reclining on the upper part with the emblems of Father Time between, one sleeping, the other pointing to a gold-bezel-mounted watch with white enamel dial and black Roman and Arabic numerals contained in a spherical case painted with trailing flower-sprays and surmounted by a crowing cockerel (part of tree lacking at back and repair to its base, one putto's foot chipped, minor chips to extremities), red anchor mark, circa 1758, the contemporary watch with later lever escapement and marked Jno Smith London 6887 (slight damage and cracks to dial)
Details
A CHELSEA ARCHITECTURAL WATCH-STAND representing the Dawn of Day, modelled as a rococo fountain with a balustrade to one side enriched with gilding, moulded and applied with coloured reeds and flowers and with a sphinx, hound and three ducks, two scantily draped putti seated and reclining on the upper part with the emblems of Father Time between, one sleeping, the other pointing to a gold-bezel-mounted watch with white enamel dial and black Roman and Arabic numerals contained in a spherical case painted with trailing flower-sprays and surmounted by a crowing cockerel (part of tree lacking at back and repair to its base, one putto's foot chipped, minor chips to extremities), red anchor mark, circa 1758, the contemporary watch with later lever escapement and marked Jno Smith London 6887 (slight damage and cracks to dial)
27.5cm. high
27.5cm. high
Exhibited
The Ashmolean Museum, loan 1978-1982