From its style, the decoration of the case and the calibre used for the movement, this watch is very similar to those made at the same period by Jaquet-Droz for the Chinese Market and was certainly produced in Switzerland in the workshop of this celebrated maker. Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1790) From 1752 to 1784, Pierre Jaquet-Droz founded the firm to which he gave his name; later, his son Henri (1752-1791), joined the firm. When Pierre Jaquet-Droz grew old, the firm was taken over by his son Henri and his adoptive son Jean Frederic Leschot (1746-1824?), who changed the name to JAQUET-Danz & LESCI-mor. That is when the company moved from l.a Chauds de Fonds to Geneva. Born in La Chauds de Fonds, Pierre Jaquet-Droz studied mathematics and theology, and then became interested in horology. IIe sent his son, I-Ienri, to Nancy in Fiance to study mathematics, physics, music and thawing. When his son joined the firm, they began producing automata for which they became famous all over Europe. Picaur JAQUETDaoz was the first to make singing bird boxes and enjoyed an excellent reputation for complicated clocks, Neuchatel clocks and automaton timepieces. JAQUET-Danz & LESCrroT are responsible for introducing complicated timepieces in Geneva. For a time, the firm's main activities were the export of luxury and unusual complicated watches, the manufacture of singing mechanical birds, as well as the making of clocks in Neuchatel. These items were namely sold in England, from where they would then be offered on the Asian market. In order to facilitate the sale of these items, they kept their London branch, which had been opened in 1775 and was managed by one of their best collaborators Henry Maillardet. Although their type of association changed in 1793, Maillardet continued to be in charge of the London Branch through which he supplied magnificent watches amde by the eminent maker to Cox and Beale, the successors of J. Cox & Son in Canton, the famous dealers of luxury watches made for the Chinese Market. Signatures of Henry-Louis Jaquet-Droz, James Cox and Henry Maillardet on a contract dated 1783 (A. Chapuis-E Jaquet, The Hider ' of the Se//=Winding Mach, p. 160. Although unsigned or bearing the signature of Henry Maillardet or of other makers, several watches destined for the Chinese Market and sold through London were in fact produced in Switzerland in the workshop of Pierre Jaquet-Droz. Pierre Jaquet-Droz died in Bienne in 1790 and Henri Jaquet- Droz in Naples in 1791. Thy were succeeded by Jean Frederic Leshot who took over the firm.