Swiss minute repeating watch with two Jacquemarts Circa 1900

Gold hunting cased pocket watch by LeCoultre & Cie.
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A rare Swiss minute repeating hunting cased pocket watch with two Jacquemarts, circa 1900.
18 Carat rose gold case with gold dome and slide for repeating mechanism. Gilt dial, central enamel dial with Roman numerals, auxiliary seconds, screwed on polychrome enamel figures – Hermes with winged sandals, winged cap, and the herald’s staff on the left and Chronos with scythe on the right – striking the bell and blued Breguet hands. Bridge movement, frosted, gilt, two hammers/two gongs, screwed gold chatons, gold screw compensation balance.
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Diameter: 53 mm
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Weight: 129 g
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Signed: LeCoultre & Cie Le Sentier
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The symbolism of the scene depicted in the caduceus of Hermes represents a whole philosophy and discipline of life. It teaches how to work with the two negative and positive currents which circulate in the universe while the Chronos reminds us that the time we have for it is limited. The automaton Jacks on the dial refer to the Medieval way of public time announcing which was by real people striking every hour on a bell situated at the top of the city tower. Later, life-size robots, called Jacquemarts or Jacks, amused public by striking bells in large public clocks, of which, probably the most famous is the one in Venice at Piaza San Marco and the oldest (1383) in the tower of Dijon with robot Jacquemart, his wife Jacqueline, son Jacquelinet, and a daughter Jacquelinette.