"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.