Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 15, 2016

LOT 192

"MUSIQUE D'AMOUR" QUARTER REPEATING MUSICAL WATCH WITH CONCEALED EROTIC AUTOMATON GOLD Swiss, probably Genève, case No. 1312. Made circa 1810. Fine and rare, 18K gold and painted on enamel, two-train, quarter-repeating musical watch with concealed erotic automaton scene, playing at will.

Three-body, "Empire", polished with reeded band. WATCH Gold, radial Roman numerals and engraved foliate decoration between, outer minute divisions two winding apertures, the center engraved with a scene of a riverside town and bridge with a steam train travelling across and a paddle steamer on the river. Blued steel hands. AUTOMATON Varicolored gold and finely painted on enamel with an automaton scene of a gentleman with a lady on a daybed in a sumptuous interior enjoying the pleasures of the flesh, activated via a cam when the music plays. Gilt brass double train movement with cylindrical pillars, going barrel and cylinder escapement, plain three-arm balance, flat balance spring, polished steel end- piece, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, regulator arm protruding from under the cuvette with engraved scale at the edge. Sur-plateau musical train with pin-disc and individual blued steel blades. Case and punch-numbered 1312.