Metalwork Design thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level C , Case M, Shelf 39

Metalwork Design

1740-1760
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A drawing of a embossed and chased gold watch case, plan. Shown full size, diameter 47 mm.
Bacchus and a female figure, perhaps a water nymph, in asymmetrical scrollwork.
On the back of the mount a stamped collector's mark with a monogram PL in a circle (not in Lugt).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and brown wash on laid paper, the design silhouetted and pasted to paste board laid paper mount with a ruled border.
Brief description
Design for a gold watch case by George Michael Moser (1706- 1783) circa 1740-60
Physical description
A drawing of a embossed and chased gold watch case, plan. Shown full size, diameter 47 mm.
Bacchus and a female figure, perhaps a water nymph, in asymmetrical scrollwork.
On the back of the mount a stamped collector's mark with a monogram PL in a circle (not in Lugt).
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 47mm
Style
Marks and inscriptions
Signed G. Moser In in ink
Gallery label
George Michael Moser (1706-1783) Six designs for chased gold watch cases. About 1740-60 Each signed Pen and ink and wash Moser, who came from Schaffhausen in Switzerland, had arrived in England by 1730. He became not only the leading gold-chaser of his day but an important member of the art establishment and one of the founders of the Royal Academy. These designs are drawn at full size and with great precision, following a tradition common to jewellers' drawings since the Renaissance. They show that Moser had a complete and sophisticated grasp of the new and fashionable rococo ornament as well as an elegant figure and compositional style closely related to that of Gravelot. One of the designs showing a classical wedding, appears on chased watch case datable to 1744. The blue stones represent diamonds or pastes. D.141-143, 145-147-1890
Object history
Acquired 15th May 1890 from the dealer E. Parsons together with D.142- 1890 for 1 pound, 15 shillings.
This design is from a group of Moser watch cases designs D.141- 143, 145- 147-1890.

George Michael Moser 1706-83, born in Schaffhausen, Switzerland in 1706, he later moved to Geneva where he became an accomplished gold chaser and enameller. He came to London in 1726 and began work for a coppersmith.He was soon working for an immigrant German gold-chaser, Johannes Valentine Haidt. At some time in the 1730's, together with Haidt, he established a small drawing class specialising in life classes, to utilise his talent in drawing. In the 1740's Moser became a leading figure at the St Martins Lane Academy and later, in 1769 he became the first Keeper of the Royal Academy.


Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Richard Edgcumbe, The Art of The Goldchaser in Eighteen Century London, 2000, pages 85- 132.
Collection
Accession number
D.141-1890

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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