French enamelled case with concealed watch Circa 1690-1740

Completely enamelled and silver case by Lenoir
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A unique French enamel case with concealed watch, circa 1690 and 1740. Fire gilt verge movement. White enamel dial with Roman hours and Arabic minutes, presumably original hands. The case is completely enamelled with silver mountings, attributed to Les Frères Huaud, a lavish mythological scene at the top, an erotic scene at the bottom, four cartouches to the sides with various landscape paintings, an enamel painting to the inside lid as well as to the inside bottom showing a castle. Movement signed. This piece comes with a later high-quality presentation box.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Hight: 30 mm
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Signed: Lenoir à Lion
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The case is of outstanding quality and is probably a work of Frères Huaud from the late 17th century. Like most of the pendant and pocket watch cases attributed to Les Frères Huaud, the movements were built into the cases in the 18th century.
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Les Frères Huaut (or Huaud). The cases painted on enamel by ‘Les deux Frères Huaut’ were among the finest examples of their kind from the Geneva School and were not only highly valued when originally made, but remained as art treasures in the centuries that followed. Pierre I was the founder of the Huaud dynasty. He was born in 1612 in Geneva as the son of a French goldsmith Jean Huaud. He settled in Geneva in 1630 and three of his 11 children became famous enamellists like their father: Pierre II (1647-1698), Jean-Pierre (1655-1723) and Ami (1657-1724). The brothers were most likely trained by their father and worked with him. Pierre II started his own business around 1680. Jean-Pierre and Ami became partners in 1682 and were appointed painters to the Prussian court in 1686 when they moved to Berlin and started working for Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg (1620-1688). Among their most well-known works are Diana and Actaeon, The Judgement of Paris, The Holy Family, St. John the Baptist, The Nativity and The Adoration of the Shepherds.