Created in 1770 by John Ellicott, one of the most famous English watchmakers of the 18th century, this beautiful pocket watch is a masterpiece of watchmaking and jewelery art. Everything is great here. Not only is the external finish of the case good, but even the mechanism itself is decorated with the finest gold pattern.
John Ellicott (1706-1772) was born the son of a watchmaker who was a member of the Honorable Society of Watchmakers. This Society was formed by Royal Charter of King Charles I in 1631. In 1813, the Society founded a library and its own museum, which has the oldest collection of clocks in the world. The current goals of the Society and the museum are charity and education, in particular the promotion and preservation of watchmaking and watchmaking. The society has its own emblem and motto – “Tempus Rerum Imperator” can be translated as “Time, the ruler of everything.”
The lid of the case is decorated with an engraved scene depicting the scene of Hannibal’s oath. According to legend, the nine-year-old Hannibal swore an oath to his father Hamilcar that he would always be the implacable enemy of Rome. From this legend came the expression “Hannibal’s oath”, which is not often used today and means unyielding determination.
From 1728 to 1772 John Ellicott worked for the watchmaking firm Sweetings Alley, Royal Exchange, London. He became one of the most outstanding masters of that time, who created a large number of accurate clocks, which were popular both in England and abroad. His magnificent work brought him fame, and in 1762 the position of watchmaker to King George III. For this official position he was paid 150 pounds a year. Later, his son Edward Ellicott joined his father’s business and continued the family business, which became known as John Ellicott & Son or simply Ellicott.
In 1738 John Ellicott was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society. He took a keen interest in scientific matters and maintained an observatory at his home in Hackney. He was best known for his work on the development of temperature compensated pendulums and the use of a cylinder escapement. Ellicott published two articles on clocks and supplied portable regulators to astronomers Nevil Maskelyne, Charles Mason, and James Cook. Ellicott was fond of astronomy and observed the transit of Venus in 1761 from his own observatory.
The watch number 6369 is engraved on the back, decorated with a rococo ornament.Coat of arms of the Honorable Society of Clockmakers with the image of Time in the form of an emperor with a scepter.Portrait of John Ellicott, His Majesty’s Watchmaker, by Robert DunkatonTable clock in mahogany with five melodies, height 55 cm Edward Ellicott, London. The melody select lever in the arch indicates Song, Jigg, Minuett, Air, Cotillion.Enamelled gold pocket watch, Ellicott, London, circa 1780.Walnut case clock, John Ellicott, London, circa 1750Large gilded musical clock in an ebony case, John Ellicott, London, circa 1765.Chinese style table clock, 54 cm high, in ebony case, Ellicott, London, mid-18th century.Table clock in walnut case, John Ellicott, London, circa 1740.Silver pocket watch, John Ellicott, London, circa 1760Pocket watch, John Ellicott, London, late 18th century.Gold pocket watch, John Ellicott, London, circa 1750.Gold clock on the chatelaine, LondonTable gilt mahogany musical clock, London, circa 1770.Gold pocket watch decorated with agate, Ellicott, London, circa 1758.Ebony gilded musical table clock, circa 1740.Two-week-winding grandfather clock in a mahogany case showing the phases of the moon, London, circa 1740.
