A fine early 18th century verge, with an attractive gilt champleve dial and beautifully underpainted gilt and horn case.

MOVEMENT : A fine gilt verge movement, with engraved and pierced balance cock and plate, large silver regulator disk, four square pillars and blued screws. Signed ‘J.Foster, London’ and numbered (2083). All in good condition and running well.

DIAL : Signed gilt champleve dial. In excellent condition. Nice original 18th century blued steel beetle and poker hands.

CASE : A wonderful gilt and underpainted horn case. The painted scene is the ‘Sailor’s Return’ where a wife or sweetheart waits for the return of her sailor, with the ship in heavy seas in the background. Beautifully painted seaweed to the border and bezel.

The horn is in good condition with a few short cracks but no horn missing. All of the pins are present. The sliding cover for the winding hole is also horn covered with the scene continuing over the cover.

There is some wear to the gilding, mainly on the stem. The catch button is dented and the catch a little worn so the case doesn’t snap shut, but generally in good condition. The high dome bull’s eye crystal is fine, with no chips and just light scratches.