Swiss quarter repeating musical cylinder watch Circa 1820

Gold musical repeating pocket watch attributed to Piguet & Meylan
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A very fine and rare Swiss 18 carat gold open faced quarter repeating musical cylinder pocket watch, circa 1820. Gilt brass two-train movement with standing barrel for the going train, Ø 46 mm, cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, flat balance spring, polished steel endplate, index regulator, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. A sur plateau musical movement, 28 tuned, blued steel vibrating blades acting on both sides of the pinned disc, music/silence lever at the edge of the cuvette beneath the back cover, playing music on the hour or at will. Hinged gilt-brass cuvette with apertures for winding and hand-setting. Gold engine-turned dial with Roman hours, an outer minute track and blued steel Breguet hands. An engine-turned case with polished rims, a bolt at 10 o’clock to activate the music, master mark AP. Dial, case and movement numbered, dial and case with matching numbers. Accompanied by a later mahogany fitted box.
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Diameter: 53.5 mm
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Signed: No name
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Piguet & Meylan were both originally from the village of Le Chenit in the Vallée de Joux, Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Philippe Samuel Meylan (1772- 1845) came to Geneva as young men and formed a partnership that lasted from 1811 to 1828. The company specialized in elaborate and beautifully decorated musical watches, including skeleton and automaton watches and mechanical animals. They employed some of the best enamel painters to decorate their watches. The company further are particularly known for their watches made for the Chinese Market. Examples of their work are in many of the world’s foremost collections including the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Musée d’Horlogerie in Le Locle. The firm was established at 45, Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau in Geneva. After their association came to an end both Piguet and Meylan continued for some time to work with their sons.