Attributable to Jaquet-Droz

Attributable to Jaquet-Droz, Geneva, No. I,circa 1785.Magnificent and exceptional 18K gold and enamel pearl and ruby-set singing bird watch. Double body, Louis XVI, the bezels set with alternated rubies and split-pearls and enamelled with paillonné decoration over a black ground, pendant and bow decorated en suite. The enamel back panel painted in a medallion with an allegorical scene depicting Venus paying tribute to Cupid, outer paillonné floral decoration over a dark blue ground. Small eccentric white enamel with Roman numerals and outer minute ring. Gold pierced hands. Polished gold dial plate with split-pearl set border, aplied with high relief enamelled, split-pearl set cornucopia full of flowers chased in high relief. The feather covered automaton bird is perched above thedial on a gold branch chased in high relief and applied on the dial plate. Notes Four watches of this type are known to exist:- One in the Sandoz Collection, previously in the Gustave Loup Collection, and it is described by A. Chapuis and E. Gélis inLe Monde des Automates, Paris 1928, Vol. II, p. 122, fig. 399.- One, previously in the Gélis Collection, is described byA. Chapuis and E. Gélis in Le Monde des Automates, Paris 1928, Vol. II, 122, fig. 398, coloured pl. 5.- One in the Lord Michael Sandberg Collection, is No. 25 of the book, Antiquorum Editions, 1999.- The watch now offered for sale.According to A. Chapuis and E. Gélis in Le Monde des Automates, Paris 1928, Vol. II, p. 122, this type