A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED AND VARI-COLOUR GOLD THREE COMPARTMENT AUTOMATON SNUFF-BOX AND TIME-PIECE
GENEVA, CIRCA 1810/1815
oval-shaped case, the central rectangular cover finely painted with an enamel scene depicting Romeo and Juliet, with the Nurse in the background, framed with split pearl border, the hinged demi-lune side panels set with wavy translucent blue enamel over an engine-turned ground, the bezels set with split pearls, the sides and base set with panels of translucent blue enamel within taille d’épargne sky-blue enamel foliate borders, the left-hand compartment concealing a chased vari-color gold automaton with a couple, in a painted capricci, on a moving see-saw with a cherub playing on a lyre, the right-hand compartment containing two dials in white enamel, one for hours and minutes, the other for seconds, with a third half-dial for regulation
4¼ in. (105 mm.) wide
The watch movement is semi-circular in design and has gilded plates and cocks. The escapement is a cylinder with a going barrel mainspring. The movement is wound by a key and runs for 30 hours and the winder turns clockwise to wind. There are no markings on the movement but, the design and construction would indicate Swiss manufacture. The musical movement is stamped with the number 789 and the letter C. It too, would appear to be of Swiss manufacture. It plays two tunes on a pinned barrel and graduated tuned comb. The automaton movement is driven directly from the musical movement. There are no markings on the movement, but it appears to be contemporary with the musical movement and was probably made by the same workshop.
A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED AND VARI-COLOUR GOLD THREE COMPARTMENT AUTOMATON SNUFF-BOX AND TIME-PIECE
GENEVA, CIRCA 1810/1815
oval-shaped case, the central rectangular cover finely painted with an enamel scene depicting Romeo and Juliet, with the Nurse in the background, framed with split pearl border, the hinged demi-lune side panels set with wavy translucent blue enamel over an engine-turned ground, the bezels set with split pearls, the sides and base set with panels of translucent blue enamel within taille d’épargne sky-blue enamel foliate borders, the left-hand compartment concealing a chased vari-color gold automaton with a couple, in a painted capricci, on a moving see-saw with a cherub playing on a lyre, the right-hand compartment containing two dials in white enamel, one for hours and minutes, the other for seconds, with a third half-dial for regulation
4¼ in. (105 mm.) wide
The watch movement is semi-circular in design and has gilded plates and cocks. The escapement is a cylinder with a going barrel mainspring. The movement is wound by a key and runs for 30 hours and the winder turns clockwise to wind. There are no markings on the movement but, the design and construction would indicate Swiss manufacture. The musical movement is stamped with the number 789 and the letter C. It too, would appear to be of Swiss manufacture. It plays two tunes on a pinned barrel and graduated tuned comb. The automaton movement is driven directly from the musical movement. There are no markings on the movement, but it appears to be contemporary with the musical movement and was probably made by the same workshop.
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