Live Auction 21042The Collection of the late Lord and Lady Swaythling
A GEORGE III SILVER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED AGATE CASKET WITH TIMEPIECE
Lot 1095

A GEORGE III SILVER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED AGATE CASKET WITH TIMEPIECE

JAMES COX, LONDON, NO. 1547, CIRCA 1765, THE SILVER POSSIBLY CHINESE EXPORT

Closed27 May 2022

Price Realised

GBP 4,788

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A GEORGE III SILVER AND ORMOLU-MOUNTED AGATE CASKET WITH TIMEPIECE
JAMES COX, LONDON, NO. 1547, CIRCA 1765, THE SILVER POSSIBLY CHINESE EXPORT
Rectangular, the cover set with a silver panel chased with flowers in scrolling foliage set with a watch, the white enamel Roman dial with steel hands, the bezel set with paste gems to the border, the movement with pierced and chased backcock and signed 'Jas. Cox / London, 1547', with wavy banding and raised on four dragon feet
2 1⁄2 in. (6.4 cm.) high; 4 in. (10.2 cm.) wide overall; 2 5⁄8 in. (6.5 cm.) deep
With trade card for Percy Webster with hand written note on Cox.

with Percy Webster, Great Portland Street, London.

Specialist note


This watch casket is typical of the craftsmanship of the London jeweller, gold/silversmith and automata supplier, the pre-eminent and entrepreneurial James Cox (c. 1723-1800) of 103 Shoe Lane, London, who led the field in the export of watches, musical clocks and automata to the Qing Dynasty Emperors and the Imperial Court. The present casket is particularly unusual in incorporating a Chinese Export silver panel as a ground for the watch. This casket was undoubtedly intended for the Eastern market; particularly with its dragon feet, a much repeated theme throughout his work, it is what Cox termed in ‘the Asiatick taste’.