Recordon & Dupont

Recordon & Dupont, London, Swiss, made for the Chinese market, circa 1790. Magnificent 18 ct. gold and enamel musical snuffbox with a center-seconds, quarter striking clockwatch. Three body, of mauve translucent enamel over engine-turning, the turquoise border of the lid with paillonne decoration, four painted side scenes of musician cupids, intersected with small panels decorated with paillonné forma) urns over a blue enamel ground within white frames (restored), the bottom panel with a very fine painted enamel scene of musicians, the outer decoration matching that of the lid. The watch is set on the lid with a split-pearl set bezel. White enamel with Roman numerals. Gold hands. Carillon giIt brass, shaped, skeltonized, fusee with chain, pin-drum with five hammer playing on five bells. Watch gilt brass with hinged cuvette, double train drawn from the Lepine caliber with free standing barrels engraved with scrolled foliage. Virgule escapement, plain brass three arm balance, flat balance spring. Hours and quarters, striking on two bells with two hammers. Signed on the gilt brass cuvette. In good condition, in an oval Morocco box. Dim. 85 x 61 x 38 mm. Notes However not signed, the carillon movement can be attributed to John Rich, London, specialised in the production of such carillon movements. The enamel scenes are painted in the manner of Jean Abraham Lissignol. Similar boxes are illustrated in A. Chapuis: History of the Musical Boxes, pages 140 et 141, fig. 125 to 128