Swiss silver open faced musical quarter repeater Circa 1830

Silver quarter repeating musical watch
–
A Swiss silver open faced quarter repeating keywound musical lever pocket watch, circa 1830. This watch has a mechanical movement with a keywinder, signed Simon Gounouilhou in Geneva, featuring a cylinder escapement, striking on a quarter gong with repetition on demand, and music for the hours. It showcases an anular dial with Roman numerals for the hours, railroading around the circumference, Breguet style blued steel hands, and the centre open to reveal the movement. The silver case has a reverse that depicts a lighthouse in an animated cartouche embellished with foliage and flowers, serving as a reminder on the rim, a double brass bowl, and a curved bezel with a guilloché rim.
–
Diameter: 55 mm
–
Weight: 110 g
–
Signed: Simon Gounouilhou à Geneva
–
Gounouilhou, Pierre-Simon, Geneva watchmaker–
The French Protestant Pierre-Simon Gounouilhou was born on October 15, 1779, in Bergerac, Dordogne, the son of Dominique Gounouilhou (1741-1820) and Elisabeth Andrau (1753-1813). He moved to Geneva in 1799. Pierre-Simon is now considered a manufacturer who had a significant influence on the watchmaking industry in Geneva. He produced a large number of remarkable pieces, such as clocks with quarter hour striking, Jacquemart automatons, and ring clocks. Only a few watchmakers possessed the ability to make ring clocks, which were regarded as marvels of horology. Around 1800, it is likely that only Piguet & Capt, Antoine Rojard, and Pierre-Simon Gounouilhou could produce them. In February 1829, Gounouilhou was one of the signatories of a petition for the construction of a new observatory. He became the adoptive father of Philippe Hauger (1798-1838) on May 24, 1817, and was a member of the Union des Coeurs and the Geneva Bible Society. The name Hauger-Gounouilhou can still be found in France. On June 5, 1843, Pierre-Simon became mayor of Satigny in the canton of Geneva.
–
The Geneva watchmakers Gounouilhou & Francois had their shop at Quai Neuf en l’Isle, No. 241, and were known for their large and small clocks with complications. They also manufactured carriage clocks with grande and petit sonnerie. Some of their pieces were exhibited at the first Geneva Watch Exhibition in 1828.
–
Pierre-Simon Gounouilhou died in Geneva in 1847, aged 68.