Swiss. A fine, rare and very unusual 18K gold openface quarter repeating verge watch with vari-coloured gold four-action climbing monkey jaquemarts automaton

Unsigned, case no. 5360, circa 1815

Details

Swiss. A fine, rare and very unusual 18K gold openface quarter repeating verge watch with vari-coloured gold four-action climbing monkey jaquemarts automaton
Unsigned, case no. 5360, circa 1815
MOVEMENT: manual, verge escapement, quarter repeating with two hammers on two gongs
DIAL: white enamel, Arabic numerals, blued steel centre with vari-coloured gold scene with two monkeys climbing palm trees and striking bells in unison with the repeating, moving down again once the repeating finished, dog and basket of flowers between
CASE: 18K gold, engine-turned back, ribbed band, repeating through the pendant, hinged gilt-metal cuvette, 55 mm. diam.
SIGNED: unsigned, case numbered 5360

Lot Essay

Only one or two examples are known of this very rare type of “singerie” or monkey automaton watch. When the repeating is activated the monkeys rise upwards climbing the palm trees then once at the top they strike the bells in unison with the repeating. When the repeating is finished the monkeys slide down to their original positions.

The present watch is furthermore preserved in very good, original overall condition, a fascinating and beautiful work of mechanical art.

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