A Very Rare Swiss Gold, Enamel and pearl-set fan with music and Quarter Repeating, Center Seconds Watch, circa 1807

the music movement concealed below two panels; the first a hinged cover enameled with a vase of summer flowers and the second enameled with dancing children by a lakeside cottage, using a stack of six steel discs with teeth to pluck six individually-mounted tines, the release button for the cover also releasing the music; the watch with virgule escapement, center seconds, and a slide-operated quarter repeater sounding on two straight wire gongs; the dial concealed below a circular hinged cover enameled with a single pink rose, the case decorated with translucent red enamel over a hand-engraved guilloche pattern of diamond trellis over rows of bright-cut scallops, with rose gold trailing vines, leaves and flowers set with graduated split pearls and pearl-set borders, the spines of gold, pierced and chased with formal foliage, the fan painted in rich colors with Apollo surrounded by the Muses, the reverse with a repeating pattern of painted bees illuminated with gold leaf, apparently unsigned but numbered 105 and 2, the time main spring and music spring both signed Carrisol 07/3, with contemporary gold key

Lucy Wharton Drexel Collection
By family descent to the present owner
By tradition from the collection of Manuel de Godoy, Prince de la Paix, minister of Queen Maria Luisa of Spain

red enamel showing some signs of devidrification, some paint loss to scene especially on folds but overall surprisingly good, watch and music playing
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

This fan belongs to a small group of Swiss gold musical pieces  by makers such as Henry Capt and Piguet et Capt. The time main spring and the music spring are both signed Carrisol and dated 07/3 for Jean Carrisol, specialist spring-maker supplying the makers of musical watches.

An apparently identical fan but with a painted scene of Greek figures landing from a ship is illustrated by Roy Mosoriak in The Curious History of Music Boxes, pl. XI, p.66 suggesting that the present item may have been originally one of a pair.