French miniature quarter repeating à toc verge watch Circa 1778

Gold and enamel repeating verge in pair cases by Huillier
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A very fine French 20 carat gold and enamel pair cased quarter repeating à toc miniature verge pocket watch, circa 1778.
Fire gilt full plate movement, key winding, chain fusee, moulded movement pillars, two hammers, three arm steel balance, blued balance spring, fine florally engraved and pierced balance bridge.
Glazed outer case, the back with translucent blue enamel ornamented band, the bezel half pearl set, the inner case with stone set bezel, opaque blue enamel edges on the front and back, a very fine polychrome enamel miniature painting in a gold acanthus frame on the back depicting three children playing with soap bubbles, a pusher with large diamond for opening the case, large outer hinge and diamond-set pendant pusher for the repeater. White enamel en bosse dial with radial Arabic numerals and paste set fleur de lys hands.
Movement signed.
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Diameter: 32 mm
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Weight: 35 g
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Signed: Antoine Philippe Huillier à Paris
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One of the smallest verge pocket watches with a quarter repeater ever made.
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Antoine Philippe Huillier has a reputation as an important clockmaker in Paris from 1740 to 1770. His complicated pendulum clocks with movements “à complications” are the most famous of his creations.