Swiss gold quarter repeating verge automaton Circa 1790

Gold repeating automaton pocket watch                                                      
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A rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating automaton verge pocket watch, circa 1790. Gilt full plate fusee movement, a finely pierced and engraved bridge cock with steel coqueret, plain three arm gilt balance with blue steel spiral hairspring, silver regulator dial with polished steel indicator and quarter repeating on two steel gongs by pressing the pendant.

White enamel chapter ring with Arabic hour numeral, outer minute divisions and blue steel Breguet hands. Blue steel ground with a finely chased and engraved parcel gilt scene depicting two cupids on a brick bridge. As the watch strikes the hours and quarters the arms of the figures move as though striking the bells between them. In the arch of the bridge are two figures shown sharpening knives. When the repeat is operated the figure on the left lowers the knife to the grinding wheel which rotates, apparently belt driven by a large wheel turned by the boy on the right. When the watch has finished repeating the man lifts the knife from the wheel, ready for the next time. A fine engine turned case and a sprung, signed gilt cuvette inset with a chased and engraved parcel gilt repoussé plate of Apollo playing his lyre.
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Diameter: 56 mm
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Signed: Jaquet Droz
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A rare variation of an automaton watch in excellent overall condition.
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Pierre Jaquet-Droz, 1721-1790 and his son Henri-Louis 1752-1791 are most famous for animated figures. Three complex examples known as the Jaquet-Droz automata are in the museum.