Swiss watch with musical movement and automaton Circa 1810

Gold open faced cylinder watch by Henry Capt
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An important Swiss 18 carat rose gold open faced musical pocket watch with automaton, circa 1810. An engraved monogram on the case back, a reeded band, case maker’s punch mark ID. Gold dial with an engraved scene, the automaton shows a lady in a park playing the harp while a pigeon is bathing in a nearby fountain, the harpist plucks the strings with her right hand and a winged putto at her feet listens raptly to the music, an eccentric chapter ring with inlaid Arabic hours, engine-turned in the centre. Full plate movement, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance, musical movement with tuned vibrating blades.
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Diameter: 57 mm
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Weight: 120 g
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Signed: Henry Capt Geneva
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Henry-Daniel Capt was an independent Swiss watchmaker who specialized in watches with additional complications such as musical watches and automatons. Capt was one of the first in Geneva to use barrels and crowns in his automatons. He was born in Chenit in the Vallée de Joux in April 1773, as the son of Jaques Samuel Capt and Susanne Piguet. His brother was Charles Samuel Capt. On January 1st, 1796, he married Henriette Piguet. In the Vallée de Joux, Capt trained as an établisseur. Around 1789, Henry settled in Geneva and worked for renowned companies such as Jaquet-Droz, Godet, Leschot and his brother-in-law Daniel Isaac Piguet. In 1802 he went into partnership with Daniel Isaac Piguet, which lasted until 1811. When this partnership ended, Capt kept producing his pieces before entering another partnership with Aubert et Fils in 1830 as Aubert & Capt, located in Place Bel-Air, Geneva. The firm was taken over by his son, Henry Capt, in 1844. He opened a shop on the Rue du Rhône in 1855, which quickly gained an excellent reputation. During the 1870s, the Henry Capt company advertised that they were the only Geneva watch manufacturer to have a branch retail house in London. He also established branches in Paris, Nice and New York. The house of Henry Capt flourished for many decades. Henry-Daniel Capt died in 1841.