Swiss gold repeater with five automaton jacks Circa 1810

Gold open faced verge repeater
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An excellent Swiss, 18 carat gold and painted on enamel automaton quarter repeating pocket watch, circa 1810. With jacks and separately activated automaton scene with five actions. An Empire, engine turned case with a flat band and a rope twist pendant. Small eccentric, white enamel dial with Breguet numerals, flanked by fine varicoloured gold jacks of Ceres standing on a pillar and a putto holding a flaming torch appearing to strike bells when the repeating is activated. Blued steel Breguet hands.
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The painted on enamel dial plate is painted with a country landscape and applied with a fine varicoloured gold automaton scene depicting three cherubs busily working at a forge: one is forging arrows for Venus while another sharpens the arrow and the third tends to the fire, activated by a slide concealed beneath the bezel. Gilt brass, full plate movement, verge escapement, plain brass three arm balance, flat balance spring with regulator on a silvered plate, continental cock, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant. The automaton train with two speed regulators on the backplate. Movement signed.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Signed: Courtener  Strasbourg
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This watch is very unusual in having a separate automaton scene activated independently by a slide concealed under the bezel. The striking jacks are activated by the repeating mechanism in the usual way.