Swiss minute repeating watch with automaton Corrida Circa 1890

Gold hunting cased pocket watch by Sandoz Fréres
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A remarkable Swiss minute repeating hunting cased pocket watch with automaton Corrida made for the Ibero South American market, circa 1890.
18-carat rosé gold case with lavish engraving: front with an oval cartouche with an engraved suit of armour; back with an oval cartouche with oak and mascaroon; peripheral star decorations and signed gold dome; slider for the repeater and glazed movement. Enamel dial with enamel outer chapter ring with radial Roman numerals, a central automaton with polychrome enamel figures a bull nods its head at the hour, and a picador stabs the bull with his lance at the quarter-hour, subsidiary dial for the seconds and gold spade hands. Bridge movement, nickel-plated, stripe-decorated, two hammers, two gongs, 30  jewels, screwed chatons, wolfteeth winding wheels, screw compensation balance, blued balance spring.
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Diameter: 55 mm
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Weight: 148 g
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Signed: Sandoz Fréres, Ponts Martel
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This piece is a wonderful example of the fine quality Swiss watches produced specially for the Hispanic market. With its elaborately engraved case showing a military trophy, it is very likely to have been a special commission. As the watch is lavishly ornamented and has an extremely rare and unusual automaton scene of a picador fighting a bull in the centre, it can be assumed that it was created to the order of a nobleman.