Antique Verge Fusee Automaton Pocket Watch. Silver. Switzerland, Circa 1815

Fine antique Girardier LAine verge fusee automaton pocket watch, made in Switzerland circa 1815 and in good working order. This beautiful watch mounts solid silver casing, enameled dial and movement signed by the maker. It is in excellent condition and stands out for the original hand-painted decoration of the dial. The casing is made of silver and has a polished silver rear cap and a glass front cap, both original from the time. It has a large silver ball pendant bordered by two small spherules and round bow placed at the twelve position relative to the dial. This type of pendant/bow design, is commonly seen at first half of 19th century watches. The front side of the watch is really attractive. Is decorated with a hand-enameled polychrome decoration showing a farm scene with house and windmill. The blades of the windmill rotate and is a revolving round late of farm animals at the six position. The dial is placed at the top and has a Breguet hour chapter ring and steel Continental type Spade hands. Under the dial we can see the signature Girardier LAine, which corresponds to the Swiss watchmaker Charles Girardies LAine, known chiefly for automatons and repeaters. The watch has a a dual brass plate movement, with the dial plate edge being brass fluted like a coin. The back plate is connected to the dial plate by brass cylindrical pillars pinned to the back plate. There is a verge crown wheel escapement and a chain driven single fusee present. The back plate has a fenestrated foliate engraved balance cock, attached to the plate by two screws 180 degrees apart (in the Swiss and French style) and with its adjacent silvered regulator, marked in French initials for faster and slower. Below the balance bridge would be the balance wheel and hairspring. The back plate bears the hand-engraved signature Girardier Laine in fine cursive lettering. This wonderful antique Girardier LAine verge fusee pocket watch with automats will stand out in any collection for its beautiful design and great condition. Dimensions: Width: 52 mm.