Rare Swiss gold repeater with six automaton jacks Circa 1810

Rose gold quarter repeating verge
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A very fine and very rare, quarter repeating, heavy 18K rose gold pocket watch, circa 1810. With multicoloured gold striking Jacks and an automaton scene of a knifegrinder’s workshop with a total of six automaton actions. A frosted gilt, full plate movement with cylindrical pillars, fusée and chain, verge escapement, plain brass three-arm balance with flat balance spring, pierced and engraved continental balance cock, silver regulation dial, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, automaton driven via repeating train. Cuvette and movement signed.
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An Empire case, engine-turned with polished bezels, reeded band. Gilt brass spring-loaded cuvette fitted to the movement ring. Annular white enamel dial with Breguet numerals, outer minute divisions, centre with applied multicoloured gold cherubs appearing to strike bells during repeating, gold brick arch below and within an automaton scene depicting a knifegrinder sharpening a knife on a grinding wheel while a boy drives the wheel via a large pulley, blued steel background. Blued steel Breguet hands.
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Diameter: 61 mm
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Signed: Esquivillon & Deschoudens  Genève
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The present watch is unusually fully signed by Esquivillon & Dechoudens. The case is of much heavier gauge gold than is usual, befitting the general high quality of the watch. It is very rare to find an automaton watch with as many as six separate actions. A very few are known with four, five and eight actions, placing the present watch amongst those with the highest number of automaton actions. 
Esquivillon & Dechoudens Master watchmakers of the 18th century. Gédéon- François Esquivillon became associated with his brother Joseph and Jaques Dechoudens in 1774. They are known to have signed Es. et Dech.