"MUSIQUE D'AMOUR" QUARTER
REPEATING MUSICAL WATCH WITH
CONCEALED EROTIC AUTOMATON GOLD
Swiss, probably Genève, case No. 1312. Made circa 1810.
Fine and rare, 18K gold and painted on enamel, two-train,
quarter-repeating musical watch with concealed erotic
automaton scene, playing at will.
Three-body, "Empire", polished with reeded band.
WATCH Gold, radial Roman numerals and engraved
foliate decoration between, outer minute divisions two
winding apertures, the center engraved with a scene of
a riverside town and bridge with a steam train travelling
across and a paddle steamer on the river. Blued steel
hands. AUTOMATON Varicolored gold and finely painted
on enamel with an automaton scene of a gentleman with
a lady on a daybed in a sumptuous interior enjoying
the pleasures of the flesh, activated via a cam when the
music plays.
Gilt brass double train movement with cylindrical
pillars, going barrel and cylinder escapement, plain
three-arm balance, flat balance spring, polished steel
end- piece, repeating on gongs activated by depressing
the pendant, regulator arm protruding from under the
cuvette with engraved scale at the edge. Sur-plateau
musical train with pin-disc and individual blued steel
blades.
Case and punch-numbered 1312.