Swiss quarter repeating musical double automata watch Circa 1815

Unsigned gold repeating watch attributed to Henry Capt
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A rare and exquisite Swiss gold quarter repeating musical double automaton watch featuring automaton jacks and a scene of a music lesson, circa 1815. The watch features a gilded full plate movement with separate trains for timekeeping and music/automaton functions. It has a cylinder escapement, a plain flat three-arm balance, and a balance cock that is decoratively pierced and engraved with flowers and foliage. The watch also includes a silver regulation plate and repeats on coiled gongs. The music plays on demand via tuned teeth driven by a movement with a pinned cylinder. The eccentric gold engine-turned dial is adorned with Arabic numerals and an outer minute ring. Surrounding the dial are applied vari-colour gold putti striking bells in tandem with the repetition. Below the dial, there is a music room scene with applied vari-colour gold figures of a lady playing the harp and a music teacher conducting.
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The gold engine-turned case has a back centred with a vacant shield-shaped cartouche, a milled band, a polished bezel, and a gilt metal cuvette with three apertures and directionals for winding each train and setting hands. The case back is numbered 2,317 and bears the maker’s mark G•D incuse.
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Diameter: 59 mm
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Signed: No name
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The movement is running smoothly, the Jacks are performing well, the music is playing loudly and clearly throughout the full length of its tune, and the automata figures are also performing correctly. However, please note that the repeating function is not working and will require servicing. The dial is in good, clean condition, and the case is in good, refreshed condition, with a very slight split at the edge of the engine turning to the case back.
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A similar watch by Henry Capt, depicting the same automaton scene and numbered 364, was sold at Antiquorum Geneva on April 24, 1999, as part of lot 593. Another musical watch by Henry Capt with a similar quarter repeating musical movement and an automaton scene (but without striking Jacks) can be found in P. Friess’ The Emergence of the Portable Watch, Patek Philippe Museum, inv. S-677, Vol. IV, p. 42. The latter watch is numbered 381 and, like the present watch, also bears the case maker’s mark GD.