Swiss gold quarter repeater with erotic automaton Circa 1810

Gold repeating cylinder watch by Henry Daniel Capt
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A very fine and important Swiss 18-carat gold open faced quarter repeating cylinder pocket watch with erotic automaton, circa 1810. The watch has an engine-turned case and a reeded band. It also has a unique feature of an erotic automaton dome with polychrome enamelled figures. The dial is frosted gold textured and has raised Arabic hour numerals. The outer minute dots are marked on an engine-turned chapter ring and the centre is also engine-turned. The watch has blued Breguet’s hands. The fire-gilt full-plate movement is key-wind and has two hammers, two gongs, and two barrels. The musical movement has tuned vibrating blades. The watch also features a cylinder escapement, a three-arm brass balance, and a blued balance spring.
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Diameter: 58 mm
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Weight: 134 g
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Signed: Henry Daniel Capt à Genève
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Henry-Daniel Capt was an independent Swiss watchmaker who specialized in watches with additional complications, such as musical watches and automatons. Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. He was born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773 as the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. His brother was Charles Samuel, Capt. On January 1st, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. In the Vallée de Joux, Capt trained as an établisseur. Around 1789, Henry settled in Geneva and worked for renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother-in-law, Daniel Isaac Piguet. In 1802, he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his pieces before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830 as Aubert & Capt, located in Place Bel-Air, Geneva. His son, Henry Capt, took over the firm in 1844. He opened a shop on the Rue du Rhône in 1855, quickly gaining an excellent reputation. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer with a branch retail house in London. He also established branches in Paris, Nice and New York. The house of Henry Capt flourished for many decades. Henry-Daniel Capt died in 1841.