Early Swiss niello silver verge watch with automaton Circa 1700

Silver verge with automaton by Denis Miroglio
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A rare and early Swiss niello silver verge watch with automaton, circa 1700. This watch features a verge movement with a Champlevé dial with Roman radial hours, an outer minutes track with Arabic five-minute numerals, an aperture at 12 with the rotating automaton below with five polychrome enamel portraits of aristocrats, and steel hands. The Niello silver case is lavishly decorated with flowers and features a coat of arms. The watchmaker who created this piece was Denis Miroglio (or Miroli) (1682–before 1748). The dial bears the signature Mirogli[o?], while the works bear the signature Denis Mirolio (sic). The marks are located on the dial and works, respectively.
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Diameter: 51 mm
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Signed: Denis Mirogli
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Denis Miroglio was born in Geneva around 1679. He was the son of Bénédict Miroglio and Marie Legaré and brother of Jacob Miroglio. Denis was trained as a watchmaker by Jaques Prevost in 1697. Miroglio married Catherine Miége on July 26, 1707, in Geneva. From this marriage, six children were born. One of these children, Nicolas or Antoine, became a manufacturer of enamel dials. Denis Miroglio married Madeleine Voullare after the death of Catherine Miége. From this marriage, Matthieu Miroglio was born and became a goldsmith. He married Madeleine Rilliet on February 5, 1748 at Saint-Pierre. Madeleine Rilliet was a sister of Urmacher Jacob Rilliet . Denis Miroglio was the tutor of Jean Lamon in 1718. Denis Miroglio died in Geneva on September 7, 1704, aged 30.