French quarter repeating pocket watch on two bells Circa 1810

Gold enamel open faced pocket watch by Gregson
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A most decorative French quarter repeating on two bells, gold enamel pocket watch “Lavinia Receiving The Letter from Palemon”, circa 1810.
Glassed, gold plated protecting case. Gold enamel case with on the back a polychrome enamel painting: Lavinia and Palemon in a wooded landscape, a scene of James Thomson’s poem “Autumn” on an engine turned translucid cobalt blue background. Front and back side with half pearl set bezels, decorated band and glazed gilt brass outer case. Signed enamel dial with Arabic numerals and pierced cathedral gold hands. Crescent shaped movement, key wind, fire gilt, signed, with cylinder escapement, two hammers, two coaxial bells and three-arm brass balance.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 119 g
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Signed: Gregson à Paris
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Jean Gregson
Jean-Pierre Gregson originally came from England; he was appointed clockmaker to the royal court in Paris in 1776. The importance of his position was corroborated by the fact that in 1786 he was appointed a member of the commission for the establishment of a royal manufactory. The other members were the most famous makers of France – Breguet, Berthoud and Lepaute. Gregson was one of the first makers of his time to use Lépine’s bridge caliber. However, after the outbreak of the French Revolution, a position as maker to the court was not beneficial to Gregson’s business anymore, so he abandoned the title quickly. While his repeating clock no. 2181 was still signed “Hger du Roi”, no. 2276 only bore the signature “Hger à Paris”. In 1790 Gregson returned to London to be safe. He established a new workshop and called it “Gregson London”. He continued to build French style clocks and kept his old numbering system.