French silver watch in the form of a mock pendulum Circa 1700

Silver oignon watch by Jean and Jacques Rousseau
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A French silver oignon watch with balance in the form of a mock pendulum, circa 1700. The watch features a gilded full plate movement with a verge escapement, Egyptian pillars, and a flat two arm balance, one arm resembling a pendulum bob. It is equipped with a single turn spiral spring and a large solid balance bridge, decoratively engraved with flowers, foliage, and birds, alongside an aperture to reveal the balance and faux bob, signed I. Rousseau, à Orleans. The silver champlevé dial showcases Roman numerals with half hour divisions in between and quarter hour divisions below, all set against a stippled ground. The dial centre is chased and engraved with birds and scrolling foliage, with an arbor for winding through the centre. It has a single turned blued steel hand with a floriate form head. The silver case displays concentric engraved circles on the back and features a square hinge.
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Diameter: 60 mm
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Signed: Rousseau, à Orleans
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The movement is running. There are some scuffs and scratches visible on the backplate. The dial features a decorative scheme and is generally in good condition, though there are some losses to the black wax infill of the numerals and some residue on the dial, likely from previous cleaning. The case is tarnished throughout and shows light marks and scratches. The movement’s catch is currently unable to secure the movement properly and will require some adjustment. The case is very slightly ajar at the upper edge, but it closes securely.
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Jean and Jacques Rousseau were active in Orléans between 1695 and 1736. Interestingly, the backplate of a movement from the M. Calvet collection appears to have a signature very similar to that on the movement of the present watch. The Calvet collection watch also features a decorative balance bridge in a mock pendulum form, which is not entirely dissimilar to that on the present watch. However, its decoration is more floral and less architectural. The image of the case back of a watch by Jacques Rousseau from the Orléans Museum is of further interest, which displays a similar arrangement of concentric circles at its centre.