Code: Rare Silver Pair-Cased Repousse Old Cylinder P/W H
Dimensions:
Rare Silver Pair-Cased Repousse Old Cylinder P/W Hallmark London 1737
An exceptional rare pair-cased silver fusee verge pocket watch by the respected London maker Joseph Kirk, dating to 1737. Beautifully preserved, this watch combines fine craftsmanship with an impressive repoussé outer case depicting the classical scene of Cleopatra receiving the basket of figs, making it an outstanding collector's piece.
Dial: White enamel dial featuring Roman hour numerals, Arabic minute numerals, clear minute track, beetle and poker blued hands and elegant period styling with original character. The dial is protected by a bull eye glass.
Movement: Key wind Fusee movement with old cylinder escapement (see below in description), pierced grotesque mask cock, rose-cut diamond endstone, Tompion silver regulator, rectangular baluster pillars, Signed Jo Kirk London and numbered 1750.
Case: Silver hallmark Case. The inner case shows London Hallmark 1737, dust cover similarly signed Jo Kirk and numbered 1750 as the movement, with paired repoussé outer case depicting Cleopatra receiving the basket of figs (see story below).
Signed: Joseph Kirk – Diameter: 50mm - Weight: 100gr – London Hallmark 1737
Story of Cleopatra receiving the basket of figs: After being defeated by the Roman general Octavian in 30 BC, Cleopatra was captured and expected to be paraded through Rome as a trophy.
According to the ancient Greek writer Plutarch, Cleopatra chose death rather than humiliation. Legend says that a poisonous Egyptian cobra (an asp) was smuggled into her chamber hidden inside a basket of figs. She allowed the snake to bite her, ending her life.
The scene of Cleopatra receiving the basket of figs is one of the most famous episodes from classical history and was a particularly popular decorative subject on English silver pocket watches from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Old Cylinder Escapement "The Forgotten Watches": The cylinder escapement represents an important chapter in horological history, marking the transition from the traditional verge escapement to more advanced designs. Produced in far smaller numbers than verge or later lever watches, these timepieces are often regarded as the "forgotten watches" of the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. Today, their rarity, historical significance, and place in the evolution of watchmaking make original cylinder escapement watches especially appealing to knowledgeable collectors.
As passionate collectors and enthusiasts, we are always looking to purchase pocket watches in any condition, whether working or not, valuing their history, craftsmanship, and the unique story behind every treasured timepiece we acquire.
