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).
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 |
|
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 created | June 30, 2009 |
Record URL |
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