Watch

This pocket watch was made by William Ilbery, a watchmaker who specialised in fine enamelled watches for export to China and the Far East. Ilbery was one of the first London manufacturers to produce watches in the style known as 'la montre chinoise' ('the Chinese watch'). His original workshop was located on Goswell Street in the City of London. He later moved to premises on Duncan Terrace. At some point during this period, Ilbery took on his son as a business partner. Ilbery imported watch movements from Switzerland where he had an address in Fleurier. The Ilbery firm also had an office in the port city of Canton, China.

The watch has an engine turned gold pair case by William Mansell who had a workshop in Clerkenwell. By this time the majority of specialists in the London watch trade were working in this area. They supplied the big City and West End firms with both components and finished watches. The gold inner case is decorated with an enamelled golden flower and blue semi-circular motif set in a red border. The engraved back has also been painted in red enamel. The watch movement features a detent escapement of the type developed by James Peto in the late eighteenth century. Peto worked for the firm of John and Myles Brockbank in Cornhill. Ilbery recorded serial numbers on the movements of his watches. This watch is marked with the number '5762'.