A rare 18th century Masonic silver pair cased verge pocket…
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A rare 18th century Masonic silver pair cased verge pocket watch, the case hallmarked London 1781, the convex white enamel dial with central grisaille enamel scene with checkerboard floor, all- seeing eye, tools and regalia. The silver balance cock pierced and engraved with multiple motifs of Masonic ritual and symbolism, the fusee movement signed Francis Wheelhouse, Sheffield, No.169. The outer case hallmarked London 1781, with later silver chain.

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  • Fusee - The fusee movement was used in clocks and pocket watches from the mid 17th century. The fusee is a cone shaped drum within the works that is linked to the barrel of the spring, usually by a length of chain.

    As the mainspring loses its tension over time, the cone shaped barrel compensates for this by increasing the tension, by pulling the mainspring tighter, thus ensuring the time remains constant.

    Use of the fusee in clocks was superseded by the "going barrel" in the mid 19th century and for pocket watches at the beginning of the 19th century.

    The fusee continued to be used in marine chronometers until the 1970s.
  • Pair Cased - A pair cased watch is one with a double case. The movement is encased, and for additional protection this is fitted into an outer case.
  • Movement - The technical name for the workings of a clock or watch, and does not include the dial or case.
  • Grisaille -
    Decorative painting in monochrome, usually shades of grey, olive green or buff, painted on wood, plaster, ceramic or stone surfaces to imitate marble figural sculpture or relief ornament.


    Grisaille, from the French "gris", or grey (colour) is a painting technique in which a monochrome image is created using only shades of gray, black and white, usually created by using a gray underpainting or a limited colour palette. It is often used to create the illusion of sculpture or relief on a flat surface, and was commonly used during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.

    The technique of grisaille has been used in decorative arts for centuries. It was commonly used in the Renaissance and Baroque periods in Europe to create the illusion of sculptural relief on flat surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and furniture. This technique allowed artists to create the illusion of depth and dimensionality without the use of colour.

    During the Rococo period, grisaille was often used in the production of ceramics and porcelain to create finely detailed designs on a white or light-colored surface.

    In the 19th century, grisaille continued to be used in decorative arts, particularly in the production of ceramics, both Western and Oriental.

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