Swiss, 57 mm, 100 g, circa 1820

A gentleman's rare pocket watch with "Bras en l'air"-indication and automaton "Africa"
Case: silver, case maker punch mark "LKB", Swedish silver hallmark and hallmark for 1873. Dial: enamel, left half with Arabic minutes, right half with Arabic hours, applied gilt figure of the personification of Africa; the figure shows the time with his arms is turning the head from side to side. Movm.: full plate movement, keywind, chain/fusee, cylinder escapement, three-arm brass balance.

This is an extremely rare pocket watch that does not show the time by the press of a button as is usual with this type of timekeeper. The raised arms of the figure are used as hour and minute hands. The legwear and the plumed headdress identify the exquisitely wrought figurine as a personification of Africa; the lower part of the dial shows an African steppe with trees, a waterfall, rocks and a lion.