Swiss silver repeating watch with figured automaton Circa 1820

Silver quarter repeater by Robert & Courvoisier    
–
A rare and unusual Swiss silver quarter repeating open faced verge pocket watch with figured Jacquemart automaton Africa, circa 1820.
Solid, plain case and a gilt dome. Engine-turned silver dial, small central time indication with Roman hours and outer minute divisions, blued steel hands, the figure automaton in a particularly rare and splendid three-colour representation and figures in the shape of decorated African warriors. Gilt verge movement, repeating the hours and quarter hours.
–
Diameter: 55 mm
–
Weight: 112 g
–
Signed: Robert & Courvoisier
–
Robert & Courvoisier are clock and watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. The firm was founded in 1795 as a successor to J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. In 1770 the firm was originally established by Josué Robert (1691–1771). After Robert’s death, a year after the company was founded, the firm was renamed Josué Robert & Fils and was led by his son Louis Benjamin Robert (1732–1781). They mainly produced large clockworks, but as Benjamin’s son-in-law, Louis Courvoisier became a companion, pocket watches were put into production. When Louis Benjamin died, Louis Courvoisier became the manager of the firm. From 1787 to 1795 the firm was called J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier. From 1795 to 1805 it was renamed Robert & Courvoisier. Since 1805 the firm’s name was Robert, Courvoisier & Cie with Philip Grandjean as a business partner. In 1852 it became Courvoisier Frères. The firm continued under the direction of various members of the Courvoisier family until the 1930s. Along with the Jaquet-Droz firm, they were the most important makers of musical clocks and around the turn of the 18^th and 19^th centuries, their portable officers’ watches were famous.