Swiss silver verge watch with concealed erotic scene Circa 1810

Silver watch with polychrome enamel painting by Charles Girardier
–
A Swiss silver, single cased verge watch featuring a polychrome enamel painted erotic scene hidden beneath the dial, circa 1810. The watch features a gilded full plate movement, signed Girardier L’ainé, with a verge escapement, a plain flat balance, and a decoratively pierced and engraved balance bridge. It also includes a fusee and chain, along with cylindrical pillars. The small, eccentric white enamel dial, also signed Girardier L’ainé, presents Arabic numerals and an outer minute ring, with a winding aperture at the edge between 2 and 3. This dial is set within a silver plate that is chased and engraved with a pastoral scene, depicting figures of a shepherdess and a gentleman playing the bagpipe; the former offers the latter a platter of fruit. A catch on the side at 3 o’clock reveals a polychrome enamelpainted plaque beneath, depicting an amorous couple in a bedroom setting, with a lakeside scene below. The plain silver case features a ropetwist effect bezel, is numbered, and is stamped LEN within a lozenge shaped cartouche.
–
Diameter: 59 mm
–
Signed: Girardier l’Aine
–
The movement is not running, but the balance seems to be free. A hairline crack through the dial’s centre, with chips and cracks around the winding hole. The decorative silver plate shows some scratches, and there is slight rippling towards the top, yet overall, the scene is in good condition. The polychrome enamel painted plaque is hard enamel and appears to be in good condition. The case is dirty and tarnished, with a large crease in the centre of the case back, alongside small marks and scratches.
–
Girardier, Charles – Swiss Watchmaker
Charles Antoine Giradier signed his watches as Girardier L’Aine (the Elder). He was born in 1756 or 1757 and resided in Geneva. From 1810, he worked in Paris for several years. As a master watchmaker, he created watches featuring automatons and striking mechanisms. In 1792, he received a prize from the Geneva “Société des Arts” for one of his watches. Charles Henri Guillaume d’Alleizette (1773-1851) likely made watch cases for Charles Antoine Giradier. He was the father-in-law of Abraham Henri Girardier, the son of Charles.