31,200 CHF
Erotic Automaton & Jacquemart, Swiss. Made circa 1820. Fine and rare, 18K gold and painted on enamel, quarterrepeating pocket watch with three-color gold Jacquemart automaton and concealed erotic automaton scene. Three body, “Empire” with reeded band, polished bezel, the back decorated with a finely painted on enamel portrait of a young lady wearing a crucifix of gold paillons, within an oval gold paillon border, outer royal blue guilloche enamel border with gold paillon edge. Concealed in the hinged gilt brass cuvette, a small automaton scene presents an amorous couple on a bed. Annular white enamel with Arabic numerals, outer minute divisions, outer border with three-color gold jacquemart figures appearing to strike bells when the repeating is activated. Black Breguet hands. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, verge escapement, plain brass threearm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with ruby end-stone, repeating on gongs activated by depressing the pendant, the automata driven by the repeating train by means of a small lever. Diam. 53 mm. Notes The enamel portrait of a young lady depicted wearing a crucifix represents innocence as a contrast to the erotic scene within. The theme of virtue and vice was a popular one in art and the use of it in the present watch is a kind of visual pun.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2009-11-14
