Swiss quarter repeating musical automaton watch Circa 1800

Gold and enamel repeating musical automaton by Ellicott
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A Swiss gold and enamel quarter repeating musical automaton watch created for the Chinese market, circa 1800. This watch has a gilded full plate movement with partial engravings of flowers and foliage. It also has a cylinder escapement, a pinned barrel musical movement, and a gilt cuvette with the signature Ellicott, Royal Exchange, London. The watch features a quarter repeating function with two steel gongs. It has a small, eccentric dial with an engine turned centre and Arabic numerals. The polychrome enamel dial plate shows a landscape with varicoloured automata figures, including two musicians and a small bird in the foreground (the dial plate has been restored).
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The gold case has a moulded band and a slide to activate the automaton. The engine turned case back features a blank shield and an applied monogram.
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Diameter: 62 mm
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Signed: Ellicott, Royal Exchange, London
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The movement is not running, and there are loose parts. The music plays, and the automata functions. There are holes visible in the varicolour automaton, suggesting that there might be a missing bird. There are scratches on the dial, and the hour hand is bent. The enamel on the dial plate has been restored and poorly painted. The case is worn with indentations and scratches. There are signs of solder where the back cover has cracked. There are applied initials (JM).