English gilt enamel Chinese musical coach watch Circa 1780

Gilt copper and enamel cylinder watch
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A very rare gilt copper and enamel chinese musical coach watch, circa 1780. Gilt brass skeletonized two tiered three train cylinder movement heavily engraved, barillet music wheel to activate carillon music work with seven hammers playing on a nest of three bells, grand sonnerie repeat via two hammers on a bell, white enamel dial, subsidiary dials for the age of the moon, jumping 1/5th seconds, second time zone and seconds, massive gilt copper case entirely chased with foliate scrolls inhabited by birds, the back with a hinged steel cover engraved with herrings within a pond scene detailed with polychrome enamel, bordered by polychrome enamel geometric designs.
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Diameter: 128 mm
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Thickness 60 mm
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Signed: No name
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Accompanied by a wooden fitted carrying case of Chinese make.
Accompanied by a wooden fitted carrying case of Chinese make. The present lot, with a paste set bezel and slow beat seconds, is typical of watches for the Chinese market. The watch, however, is an interesting example of such a piece, as the movement and dial are most certainly of Swiss manufacture and for Chinese export, however, the watch case, made of copper, bears details in construction and decoration which bring up the possibility that the case was of Asian manufacture. It is under cautious speculation that the movement was therefore finished in Europe and exported for casing by Swiss trained artisans in China. For two similar examples, in the Palace Collection, see Clocks and Watches of the Qing Dynasty From the Collection in the Forbidden City, figs. 75 and 85.