French 18K gold virgule Jacquemart figure automaton Circa 1800

Gold virgule watch with figure automaton by Hilaire Bassereau
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A French 18 carat gold virgule Jacquemart figure automaton, circa 1800. Very rare and highly complicated movement with virgule escapement, repeating the hours and quarter hours while the figure automaton Jacquemart is moving. Cuvette with an interesting signature, dated to the year 1800 an indication that the version of this watch was developed and made by Hilaire Bassereau. The front with a three-colour gold, detailed automaton, a pair of shepherds with their sheep, central a small white enamel dial with gold Breguet hands. Plain case, the band with finest sound openings, solid back lid with bell. Dial, cuvette and movement signed.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 167 g
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Signed: Hilaire Bassereau au Palais Royal à Paris
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Nowadays only a very few Jacquemart figure automatons are known which are equipped with the rare virgule escapement as well as a striking mechanism on a bell. This could also be the reason for the extraordinary signature, with which Hilaire Bassereau especially mentions this special version on the movement!
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Jean-Hilaire Bassereau (1743-1810) was “Horloger de l’Empereur et Roy” and a very famous Parisian watchmaker with a workshop in the Palais Royal, former student of Lépine. Some of his watches are remarkably similar in their design and details to those of his teacher Lépine. He was also very versatile, making both luxurious pieces such as carillon or singing bird clocks and early chronometers. One of them is now exhibited in the British Museum!