A Very Beautiful Victorian Engraved
Gilt-Brass Desk Timepiece with Calendar and
Original Green Leather Travelling Case
by
William Vasel, London
Retailed by Goldsmiths & Silversmiths Company
circa 1880
❝ We like: the engraving – it’s incredible.
This is a top, top quality 8-day strut clock and the complexity and quality of the engraving is
extraordinary. The gilding is original and the travelling case is a wonderful survival – they just
don’t make ‘em like this any more! ❞
The rectangular gilt-brass case is engraved all over with delicate flower heads, foliage and
strap work on a hatched ground. The sides are applied with similarly engraved pilasters
and there is a folding handle to the top. The back of the case is plain gilt brass except the
semi-circular winging handle which is engraved with a foliate wreath with central flower
head. There is a bow-shaped folding strut set in the back cover together with a typical
shutter system for the hand and date setting apertures and balance wheel regulation. At
the top of the backplate is the maker’s signature W.V. for William Vasel.
The engraved silvered dial is delicately engraved in complex and unusually high relief
detail with flower heads, flower buds and scrolling foliage on a hatched ground. The dial
plate is ‘secretly’ signed W. VASEL LONDON in an oval stamp covered by the dial mask
below the calendar rings. The centre of the dial is engraved with a humming bird drinking
the nectar from a flower head above a wicker basket of flowers. The Roman chapter ring
with delicate blued steel fleur de lys
hands and signed by the retailer at
XII GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS
COMP. 112 REGENT ST. LONDON.
The well proportioned large diameter
calendar rings below are for the
day of the week and the date; both
having a delicate blued steel hand
and both centred by ‘concentric’
foliate engraving.
SIZE: 7½ ins. (18.5cm.) high
(handle up)
5¼ ins. (13.2cm.) wide
1¼ ins. (3.2cm.) deep
PRICE: £11,500
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