Gold and enamel watch in the shape of a medallion Circa 1800-1810

Gold and enamel hunting cased pocket watch
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An 18K gold, enamel and half pearl-set hunting-cased verge pocket watch probably made for the Chinese market, circa 1800-1810.
The case with royal blue flinqué enamel on the back and cover, a décor of pearl-set and painted on enamel showing a small dog under a tree on both sides, the enamelling attributable to Jean-Louis Richter. Full plate, gilded brass movement with fusee and chain, verge escapement, key-winding, gilt-brass monometallic balance, blued steel flat hairspring, pierced and engraved gilded continental cock.
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Diameter: 31 mm
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Signed: No name
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The artisan(s) who made the case back and front had to surmount many difficulties, among them the preparation of the background representing the sky, partially guilloché or engraved in taille-douce. The “en épargne” decoration of the trees and vegetation, later set with half-pearls, had to be completed before the enamelling process began. Here various techniques were used: painted enamel, translucent enamel and a final layer of flux (fondant in French). The setting of the many different-sized pearls would have been an exacting task, certain pearls were glued and mock setting prongs were added. This type of workmanship is characteristic of Jean-Louis Richter (1766-1841), known for his signed snuff boxes, among other things.
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Jean-Louis Richter, 1766-1841, Geneva.