A good London verge in a simulated painted tortoiseshell pair case, beautifully decorated with a scene of a musician.

MOVEMENT : Gilded verge movement, signed and numbered (2002) with pierced and engraved balance cock. Four round pillars and large silver regulator disk. Clean, in excellent condition and running well.

DIAL : White enamel, in good condition, with no hairlines or repairs, but some surface scratches around 7. Later brass hands.

INNER CASE : Gilt/brass in very good condition, with no damage or repairs, and only some wear to the gilding on the band and stem. Stamped with maker’s marks and movement serial number (TG, T&h, 2002). The hinge is fine and the case snaps shut. High dome bull’s eye crystal in good condition.

OUTER CASE : Gilt/brass with painted covering. Painted to simulate tortoiseshell, with gilded scene of a boy playing a pipe in the centre. The hinge and catch are fine and the case snaps shut. Again maker’s mark TG.

The case is in excellent condition, with just a little wear to the gilding on the brass but no wear to the painted surface.

The decoration appears to have been painted directly onto the brass case, and then varnished and studs added to simulate a tortoiseshell case. It is a beautifully made case.