A good mid 19th century gilt and engraved brass strut timepiece Retailed by London & Ryder, 17 Ne...

A good mid 19th century gilt and engraved brass strut timepiece Retailed by London & Ryder, 17 New Bond St. London. Made by Thomas Cole, London, No. 1291. The rectangular case with hinged suspension loop set on stepped open shoulders over engraved sides terminating in shaped feet, the underside set with a rotating support engraved with flowers and leaves on a hatched background within a line border, the three inch silvered Roman chapter ring within an array of flowers, foliage and scroll tendrils, framed by a shaped gilt scroll mask, with fine original blued steel hands, the movement signed along the lower edge of the rectangular plates, going barrel to a lever escapement and plain steel three arm balance. The rear of the case with integral winding key and shuttered hand-set/regulation, signed for the retailers, and further engraved with the presentation insciption: 'To JOHN ABEL SMITH ESQre. WITH EDMOND LONDON'S KIND LOVE, April 8th 1861' The case numbered to the underside. 15cms (6ins) high. Footnotes: John Abel Smith (1802 – 1871) was a British Member of Parliament (MP) for Chichester and Midhurst. In 1847, Smith sat on the Committee of the British Association for the Relief of Distress in Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland, which had been founded by his friend Baron Lionel de Rothschild, whom he presented to the House of Commons in 1858 when Rothschild was the first person allowed to take the oath on the Old Testament as being of the Jewish faith. London & Ryder, who described themselves as principal assistants to C F Hancock, took over the premises and business of Thomas Hancock at 17 Bond Street and continued to trade there until c.1929. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com