Rare erotic repeating automaton for Hispanic market Circa 1890

Gold quarter repeating automaton watch
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A fine and rare solid Swiss 18 carat gold hunting cased key less quarter repeating pocket watch with concealed erotic automaton, circa 1890. Made for the Hispanic market. A rhodium plated movement, 35 jewels, lever escapement, cut bi metallic compensation balance, blued steel Breguet balance spring, index regulator, repeating on two gongs activated by the slide on the band.
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Silver dial with painted radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute divisions, subsidiary seconds, applied gold foliate center and border and decorative gold hands.
The 18 carat gold case is exceptionally engraved featuring detailed floral patterns.
The front cover jumps open when the winding crown is pushed down. The so called automaton shows a polychrome painted scene depicting man and wife having sexual intercourse with moving parts harmonizing together with the repeater complication.
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Diameter: 53.5 mm
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Weight: 133 g
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Signed: Armand & Cie. Genève
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The history of these pieces is quite interesting: In the late 18th century (1770 to 1800), Europe witnessed the starting production of erotic automation watches, often discreetly housed in concealed compartments featuring opening doors. These doors revealed explicit scenes, triggered either automatically during chimes or more commonly, manually, granting the owner the choice of displaying or concealing the explicit content.
As the craftsmanship behind these watches advanced and their popularity soared, watchmakers began creating more intricate and highly enamelled scenes depicting two or more individuals in various locations and positions. However, the novelty and ingenuity of these watches proved to be a double edged sword. The detailed enamelled figures started to represent members of the church or nobility, attracting unwanted attention and leading to the destruction of numerous workshops and watches by law enforcement.
Undeterred by these setbacks, the practice resurfaced in the late 19th century, often integrated within the cuvette. The watch offered here is such an example.This listed example remains in unrestored and in excellent condition. Lovely gold ornamented dial with fancy openwork hour, minute and second hands.
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Reference 0060000