A Victorian silver cased small desk timepiece J.W. Benson, London, 1890 The French eight-day movement with silvered backplate and gilt platform lever escapement, the circular white enamel dial with vertical Arabic hour numerals and blued steel spade hands set behind a convex glass within moulded bezel, the rectangular case surmounted with an Indian style onion dome decorated with scroll cast and chased band to outer edge, over conforming foliate decoration within panels to the top, sides and around the dial, the front apron with rosette centred anthemion cast motif and the rear with plain door, on reeded bun feet, Hallmarks for London 1890 and inscribed J.W. BENSON, LONDON, FRENCH WORKS to underside, 8.5cm (3.375ins) high; with original shaped red leather covered carrying case with twin hinged panels to front each gilt inscribed with repeat retail signature to the blue silk lined inside surfaces. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands. The firm of James William Benson were in business from 1854 until 1973 and are recorded as working at 62 & 64 Ludgate Hill, London with a retail outlet at West End House, 25, Old Bond Street. An advert of theirs in the Illustrated London News of the 13th of December 1884 shows a printed view of their 'Steam Room' and 'Mezanine'. The business traded as J.W. Benson from 1856 and was continued by James Benson's sons James, Alfred and Arthur after his death in 1878; in 1891 the firm became a limited company.