Lot 170
170
Property of A NOBLEMAN
AN IMPORTANT GEORGE III GOLD-MOUNTED AGATE AND ORMOLU NECESSAIRE

Details
AN IMPORTANT GEORGE III GOLD-MOUNTED AGATE AND ORMOLU NECESSAIRE
LONDON, CIRCA 1770, WATCH MOVEMENT SIGNED JA.S COX

Rectangular, on four crouching dragons in ormolu, the truncated pyramidal top decorated with a watch supported by two young boys cast in ormolu, surrounded with blue stones and topped by a posy of flowers studded with silver-mounted stones and pearls, the corners applied with four similar flowers in vases, the striated orange agate panels mounted in a gold cagework chased with C-scrolls and floral swags, front and rear wall decorated with exotic birds; the cover opening to reveal the gilt-metal mounted interior containing steel tweezers with incorporated nail file, a steel bodkin with ear spoon finial, a steel knife, a watch key, an ormolu spy glass covered with shagreen, a gold-mounted double mirror (cracked), and four glass gottles with gold caps
6¾in. (17.1cm.) high

Lot Essay

Nécessaires containing watches signed by James Cox himself are extremely rare, and the present one compares favourably with the other caskets from his workshop illustrated in Clare Le Corbeiller, "James Cox, a biographical review," Burlington Magazine, June 1970, vol. CXII, pp. 351-356.

A snuff box with a watch movement signed by James Cox was sold in these Rooms, October 18, 1994, lot 233.