Swiss gold enamel repeater for the Chinese market Circa 1820

Gold pocket watch with double wheel duplex escapement
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An extremely rare, very fine gold enamel quarter repeating pocket watch for the Chinese market “Lavinia Receiving The Letter from Palemon” with original box, circa 1820.
18k gold case, the back cover decorated with a finely painted on enamel scene depicting Lavinia and Palemon in a wooded landscape, a scene of James Thomson’s poem “Autumn”. Half pearl set border and pendant on the front and back side; translucent red enamelled band, pendant and bow with opaque green enamelled foliage, case maker’s punch mark “FO” (Frères Oltramare), glazed movement. Enamel dial, radial Roman numerals, centre seconds, blued lozenge hands.  steel bridge movement, mirror polished steel parts on a blued steel ground, keywind, 2 hammers / 2 gongs, applied rack strike with mirror polished steel levers, double wheel duplex escapement, three arm steel ring balance.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Weight: 144 g
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Signed: Piguet & Meylan à Brassus
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J.D. Piguet et S. Meylan à Genève
Piguet was an expert craftsman who produced his watches in partnership with Henry Capt and Philippe Samuel Meylan, and later also with his sons. Philippe Samuel Meylan came to Geneva at the age of 20 to work for Audemars Frères. He opened his own workshop near Le Brassus in 1811, but returned to Geneva later. He met Piguet and formed the partnership with him; they worked in Geneva under the name “Piguet & Meylan” from 1811 to 1828. The company was wellknown for the production of early “China-watches” and became famous for its pocket watches with special functions; they created automatons with man and animal shapes and intricate musical mechanisms as well as skeleton watches. Frères Oltramare Working in Geneva between 1810/11-1826.