Lot 930: A FINE GEORGE III GOLD-MOUNTED AGATE AND ORMOLU NCESSAIRE WITH WATCH

London, circa 1770, the watch movement signed 'Ja.. Cox' Rectangular casket, resting on four crouching dragons cast in ormolu, the truncated pyramidal top decorated with a watch supported by two young boys cast in ormolu, surrounded with blue stones and topped by a posy of flowers studded with silver-mounted stones and pearls, the corners applied with four similar flowers in vases, the striated ornate agate panels mounted in a gold cagework chased with c-scrolls and floral swags, front and rear wall decorated with exotic birds; the cover opening to reveal the gilt-metal mounted interior containing steel tweezers with incorporated nail file, a steel bodkin with ear spoon finial, a steel knife, a watch key, an ormolu spy glass covered with shagreen, a gold-mounted double mirror, and four glass bottles with gold caps 63/4 in. (175 mm.) high PROVENANCE A nobleman; Christie's, Geneva, 16 November 1993, lot 90. A nobleman; Christie's, New York, 18 October 1995, lot 170 (to Dreesmann). Dr Anton C. R. Dreesmann (inventory no. F-204). NOTES N‚cessaires containing watches signed by James Cox himself are extremely rare, and the present one compares favourably with the other caskets from his workshop illustrated in Clare Le Corbeiller, 'James Cox, a biographical review', Burlington Magazine, June 1970, vol. CXII, pp. 351-356. For more recent information on Cox, see R. Smith, 'James Cox (c. 1723-1800): a revised biography', Burlington Magazine, June 2000, pp. 353-361. A snuff-box with a watch movement signed by James Cox was sold Christie's, New York, 18 October 1994, lot 233.