Papal Gift. Jean-Georges Rémond et Compagnie, Geneva, circa 1810. Very fine and rare gold, enamel and pearl-set oval snuff box with painted on ivory portrait miniature of Pope Pius VII, in original fitted leather box tooled with "EX DONO PII PPVII PAULO VANDERVRECKEN 1814"

C. Two-body, pronounced hinge, the lid centered with painted on ivory oval miniature portrait of Pope Pius VII in engraved gold, white enamel and split pearl frame, unusual background of very fine blue stripes painted on wavy engine-turning and glazed, border with gold paillons, white enamel and split pearls, edge of the lid with green, gold and white paillons over translucent imperial blue enamel, side panels and the back with en suite blue stripes over wavy engine turning, four blue enamel urns over white enamel background dividing the side panels. Punched with the maker's mark inside front lid.Dim. 90 x 65 x 33 mm.

The Doctor's Visit. Paris, goldsmith's mark "JJ", hallmarked 1782-83. Very fine and important 18K gold and painted on enamel oval snuff box in fitted leather box.

C. Two-body, with pronounced hinge, the lid centered by an oval medallion with painted on enamel scene depicting an elderly doctor examining a young woman, while his assistant prepares medecine in a mortar, medicinal instruments on the floor, frame of white enamel simulating split pearls, background of translucent light blue enamel over straight line engine-turning decorated with small dots, champlevé enamel border with foliate pattern and white enamel dots simulating split pearls, edge en suite, box panels and the base decorated en suite to the lid in translucent light blue enamel.Punched with maker's mark inside, as well as with French year and charge marks.Dim. 83 x 62 x 24 mm.

After the Hunt. Geneva, goldsmith's mark "R", circa 1800. Very fine and rare gold and enamel diamond- and paillon-set rectangular snuff box with canted corners.

C. Two-body, front lid centered by an oval painted on enamel medallion depicting a hunter bringing his lady a bird, paillon frame, white enamel background with arabesque type pattern and gold paillons, border with gold twisted rope pattern and champlevé white enamel, the sides with champlevé white and translucent imperial blue enamel with paillons, front with diamond-set thumb piece, side panels and base en suite, canted corners with paillon flower vases on white enamel background.Punched with maker's mark inside the lid and box.Dim. 83 x 56 x 24 mm.

Country Pastimes. French, end of 18th century. Charming and amusing tortoiseshell, gold and wood round snuff box fitted with four automata.

C. Two-body, tortoiseshell cover in wood and mounted in gold decorated with floral pattern, sides painted in gold and red alternating stripes. Automaton: country scene with a women milking a cow, another churning butter, a third washing clothes, while a man grinds a knife.Diam. 64 mm, height 31 mm.

Geneva, No. 2296, circa 1820. Very fine and rare gold and painted on enamel paillon-decorated bonbonnière.

C. Two-piece, the lid painted on enamel with a lady and gentleman fishing beside a waterfall, a harbor and mountains in the background, the top with a painted oval medallion depicting Flora and Cupid over a translucent imperial blue enamel ground over sunburst engine-turning, gold paillon leaf frame, band and base with white and turquoise enamel decorated with a repeated pattern. Each part punched with prestige marks.Diam. 63 mm, height 17 mm.

The Telescope. Geneva, circa 1820, made for the Russian market. Impressive and very rare 18K gold, gilt brass and enamel telescope.

C. Eight concentric sliding cylinders, the outer one decorated with oval medallions in rose and blue enamel painted with musical instruments and flowers, gold paillon frames, yellow enamel background with painted flowers, each cylinder finished with a reeded edge, the eyepiece with translucent red and white enamel over engine-turning, the lens cover painted with musical instruments and flowers in translucent scarlet champlevé enamel with rosettes and gold stylized foliage.Dim: Length when open 50 cm, when closed 12.5 cm.Diam. 43 mm.

The Nightingale. Attributed to Frères Rochat, Geneva, circa 1820, made for the Chinese market. Exceptional and extremely rare gold and enamel, split-pearl-set miniature singing bird cage.

C. Octagonal base and side panels finely painted with bouquet of flowers and fruits, with translucent imperial blue enamel background over wavy engine-turning, canted corners of translucent imperial blue enamel over elaborate engine-turning, the cage , following the shape, standing on a gold ribbon bordered with azure champlevé enamel, with filigree wire pattern centered by split-pearl rosette,supported on azure enamel Corinthian columns with yellow gold capitals surmounted by gold and blue enamel vases with bases of enamel simulating black marble, the eight panels of the dome made of alternating sectors of filigree floral gold pattern set with split pearls and enamel simulating sapphires, and sectors with filigree scrolling. Inside, a gold bar with very realistic nightingale.Gold ring handle mounted in gold finial with azure enamel, gold paw feet. Singing bird movement. Octagonal, 81 x 80 mm, brass, fusee and chain, circular bellows, six-wheel train (including fusee), 3rd wheel arbor set with eight spring-loaded cams which make 4 revolutions per song - controlling the singing and the bird's movements, the lifting of the cams facilitated by a gear revolving on the same 3rd wheel arbor but with a different speed, 2-wing governor set on a worm (endless) gear with adjustable weights.Dim. Height 179 mm, base 91 mm.

Nightingale and Fledglings. FR (Frères Rochat), Geneva, No. 228, probably made for the Russian market, circa 1814. Magnificent, highly important and probably unique gold and enamel, diamond-set miniature singing bird cage with center-seconds petite sonnerie clockwatch, the three birds singing on the hour or at will.

C. Octagonal base, side panels very finely painted on enamel with lakeside scenes, watch in the front surrounded by green enamel plaque painted with garlands of flowers and red ribbons, back with bouquet of flowers, chased and engraved gold background, canted corners with azure enamel plaques applied to a chased and foliate engraved gold background, spring-loaded front panel reveals winding and setting arbors, striking/silence lever, singing/silence lever, activation lever at the left edge. The cage, following the shape of the base, supported on four sets of two Corinthian columns in rose gold with yellow gold capitals and floral bases, mesh wire screen at the base, the cage itself formed of rose gold lances. The dome stands on a gold and chased ribbon bordered with black champlevé enamel, with alternating diamonds and azure enamel segments centered by gold leaves, the eight panels of the dome formed of alternating segments of gold wire mesh with applied painted on enamel flower garlads and pierced and florally engraved gold segments separated by half-round gold wire with translucent imperial blue enamel, the base of the dome decorated with translucent red, green, and blue enamel over flinqué forming flowers, foliage and a setting sun, the gold cage floor pierced and engraved with arches and a fleur-de-lis pattern. Inside a nightingale rests on a gold bar, a gold wire mesh nest with two baby birds resting on a green enamel pedestal painted with flowers. Gold ring handle mounted in gold finial decorated with painted on enamel flowers on a pale green ground, gold neck, gold ball feet.D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute divisions. Blued steel Breguet hands.M. Rectangular 45 x 30 mm, brass, fixed barrels, cylinder escapement, three-arm gold balance with flat balance spring, striking based on a single cam with each of the 12 hour notches divided into three for quarters, striking on two bells, hour-hammer pusher lifted after striking hours, pinion governor set in eccentric bushing for speed regulation.Singing bird movement. Octagonal, 86 x 72 mm, brass, reversed fusee and chain, rectangular bellows, six-wheel train (including fusee), 3rd wheel arbor set with eight spring-loaded cams which make 4 revolutions per song - they mostly control the singing, the extension of its arbor is fixed with a set of six cams and a pusher for the Maltese cross set on the 4th wheel and fitted with loosely revolving 4-step cam at the top which changes the position of the cams at each turn. The top cams control the movements of the birds, 2-wing governor with adjustable weights set on a worm (endless) gear.Signed and numbered on both sides of the singing-bird movement and on front plate of the watch movement.Dim. Height 271 mm, base 98 mm.

A Bird in the Bush. Attributed to Piguet & Meylan, Geneva, circa 1825, made for the Chinese market. Exceptionally fine and rare, very small, 18K varicolored gold and enamel, pearl-set tabatière with singing bird and music, both driven by one mainspring. In a fitted morocco leather box.

C. Three-body, rectangular with rounded corners, top and base with oval medallions painted on enamel with flowers against light yellow translucent enamel over sunburst engine-turning, azure borders with gold foliage, set with graduated split pearls at the top, sides decorated with cartouches painted with flowers against azure enamel, corners with green champlevé enamel and gold and black enamel foliage. The hinged lid reveals a compartment, the hinged base opening to reveal the bird scene. The bird compartment has a double gold bottom for better sound. The front panel has a gold bolt for activation, the back opening at the bird plate for switching from singing to music. D. Set on a painted on enamel Alpine scene, with a garden in the foreground, a house and mountains in the background, applied multicolored gold flower vase, and foliage. The feathered bird is fixed to the plate over the gold foliage as if it were sitting on one of the branches, it flaps its wing as its tail and beak move. At the top right corner is an applied gold butterfly concealing the sound opening. M. Rectangular with rounded corners, 62 x 40 mm, brass with ingenious mechanism driving singing and musical functions from the same mainspring and controlled by the same disc which is has pins on one side for the music, with 21 tuned vibrating blades and on the other the cams controlling the bellows and whistle, as well as the bird's movements.Seven-wheel train, fly governor set on the last pinion, female winding.Punched with illegible casemaker's mark inside the front lid as well as with Geneva gold guarantee mark.Dim. 68 x 44 mm.

Views of Switzerland. Charles Abraham Bruguier, Geneva, enamel attributed to Louis Dufaux père, 1840s, made for the Italian market. Exceptional gold, marble, mother-of-pearl and painted on enamel, ruby- and emerald-set musical singing bird box in the form of a paperweight. Accompanied by later leather fitted box

C. In shape of a large paperweight, the base panels very finely painted on enamel with landscapes of Lake Leman; Lake Constance, Lausanne, and the Jura, the rounded corners painted with flower bouquets, bordered by black champlevé enamel painted with azure and white accents, the tip and the handle with floral and foliate repoussé gold painted in various colors of enamel, the bird's nest painted with flowers on a translucent red background over flinqué, ruby- and emerald-paste-set lower border, top border in champlevé enamel, the lid painted with flower bouquets on a white enamel ground with ruby and emerald paste frame. M. 60 x 48 mm, brass, fusee and chain, the bird rotating right and left and moving its beak, tail, and wings, the melody, and circular bellows controlled by a stack of eight spring-loaded cams moving vertically along their arbor for a long duration of song, the shifting facilitated by an L-shaped lever pushing the cams down via a cam set on the extension of the 2nd whel, fly regulator on a worm-gear with fixed weights on each wing, the movements of the bird are controlled by an unusual and complex mechanism consisting of two fusee-like chains going through the handle.Punched on the movement with three tulips.Dim: Height 115 mm, base 125 x 102 mm.

Movement punched FR (Frères Rochat), Geneva, No. 333, circa 1820, case made at the end of the 19th century. Fine and large gold and enamel, paillon-set singing bird box.

C. Two-body, hinged base revealing a compartment, decorated in translucent imperial blue enamel over engine-turning, set with fine gold paillon flower garlands, the bird cover with a painted on enamel flower bouquet,winding aperture at the top lid.Singing bird movement: 74 x 41 mm, rectangular brass, fusee and chain, eight cams and a whistle with sliding piston for the song's modulation. The cams rotate four times per song and lift one step every rotation, allowing a long duration of singing via L-shaped lever lifted by a cam set on a separate arbor with 4 notches entered by a pin on a wheel set under the bird cams - the final Rochat arrangement. Cam-controlled raising of the bird medallion and the bird, with five-wheel train finished by a pinion in eccentric bushing to regulate the speed of the opening and closing. The complicated mechanism allows for precision control of the raising of the bird and medallion, and its speed.Stamped "FR" in an oval on the back of the bird mechanism.Dim. 95 x 60 x 49 mm.

Country Pleasures. Attributed to Pierre Morand, Geneva, circa 1785, made for the Dutch market. Magnificent and extremely rare 18K rose gold and enamel, double-face, small coach watch of unusual construction, with 4-bell carillon, triple automaton and six auxiliary minute dials.

C. Two-body, "Louis XVI", glazed on both sides, pierced for sound and decorated with polychrome champlevé enamel flowers and wavy lines, engraved with repeated pattern, pronounced hinge. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals, outer minute track with five-minute Arabic markers, winding apertures at 4 and 8 o'clock, six subsidiary dials with different times zones (in minutes). Gold "Louis XV" hands. Automaton dial: solid multicolored gold, the animated rural scene depicting a mill, a lady feeding a chicken, and a couple on a seesaw. M. 71 mm, frosted gilt, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, three-arm steel balance with flat balance spring, two-footed gilt small cock, unusual going train allowing for no motion work, Barillet carillon with four concentric bells and 4 adjustable hammers, 2-wing fly governor, the automata driven via cams off the second carillon train wheel.Punched with later French import marks. Diam. 82 mm.

James Cox, London, circa 1770, made for the Chinese market. Exceptional and probably unique 18K gold, silver, gilt and agate portable lamp, mirror compartment fitted with a watch with visible balance.

C. Octagonal body made of 8 panels of white -striated red agate set in a repoussé gold frame with fruits and flowers, one of the panels fitted with a watch with ruby-set bezel, agate base terminated in hinged mirror compartment, the top with spring-loaded oil lamp in bell-shaped glass cover, silver reflection mirror on one side and pierced and engraved hinged gold cover. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions with five-minute Arabic markers, winding aperture at 9 o'clock. Gold "beetle and poker" hands. M. Set on a rectangular base, 45 x 24 mm, cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, gilt straight-line train with the escapement outside the main plate allowing for the visibility of the balance, cylinder escapement with brass escape wheel, three-arm brass balance with flat balance spring.Signed on the dial.Dim. Height 15 cm, base diam. 7 cm.

A Pair of Ostrich Eggs. James Cox, London, No. 306 and 1024, circa 1770, made for Chinese market. Magnificent, probably unique, pair of gilt metal, silver, diamond-, ruby-, sapphire-, and emerald- paste-set desk clocks above split and mounted eggs.

C. Egg-shell color porcelain formed as an egg over gilt brass, with removable lid, mounted in gilt brass with precious stone pastes, engraved below with a dragon, tree, camel and a palm, the lid engraved with a bird, an elk and trees, the egg mounted on a gilt brass neck set with diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald pastes which has a friction-fit slot for easy mounting in a matching V-shaped bracket held by a gilt brass boy standing on a frame supported by three gilt brass lions, the movement housed at the top in a chased gilt cylinder-type case with silver diamond-paste-set bezel supported on a gilt brass dragon and surmounted by a silver diamond and sapphire-paste-set finial. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions, winding aperture at 7 o'clock. Blued steel hands. M. 23 mm, frosted gilt full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock.Signed on the movements.Dim. Height 27 cm.

Miniature Musical Cabinets. James Cox, London, 1770, made for the Chinese market circa. Magnificent and extremely rare pair of miniature cabinets of gold-mounted striated agate, set with coral and fitted with a clockwatch with Chinese numerals and a carillon playing two tunes on 12 hammers and 6 bells.

C. With curved sides and a dome for the clock, made of agate striated in white and painted red on the reverse, mounted in gold repoussé in floral, foliate and scrolling patterns, front and back with pair of hinged doors, front revealing the carillon movement, the back a reverse glass painting depicting on one a Chinese lady sitting at a table, on the other a Chinese lady with her dog in a mountain landscape, with a mirror as a background, four finials terminated with coral balls, en suite dome fitted with a clock having hinged gold back door, surmounted by a finial with small mirrors on three of its four sides and mounted in gilded repoussé, curved feet in gilded repoussé, lever at the left side for tune changing. D. White enamel with radial Chinese characters, outer minute dot divisions with five-minute Chinese markers, winding apertures for going and striking train. Diamond-set hands.M. Rectangular with canted top corners, 66 x 47 mm, brass, going barrels, verge escapement, small pendulum fixed to the verge, adjustable potence, striking every hour on a bell mounted inside back door, fly governor.Carillon movement. Following the shape of the case, brass, reversed fusee and chain, 6-wheel train (counting fusee), fly governor, pinned cylinder driven off the 2nd wheel lifting 12 brass hammers striking a nest of 6 concentrically mounted bells, activated by pulling a cord at the lower left side.Signed on the dials.Dim. Height 31 cm, width 11.5 cm

Attributed to James Cox, movement by J. Grantham, London, No. 5778, made for the Chinese market circa 1760. Exceptional and extremely rare gilt mounted agate traveler's nécessaire fitted with a watch, compass and spy glass.

C. Rectangular, in the shape of a casket with hinged lid, made of gray/brown striped agate mounted in repoussé gold with floral and rocaille pattern, dragon feet, inside compartments with four scent bottles, spy glass, a mirror, a lens,an ear spoon, a brush and a watch key. The watch is mounted inside the lid. D. Gold, with applied Roman numerals, outer minute dot divisions, winding aperture at 6 o'clock, engine-turned center. Gold "spade" hands. M. 35 mm, hinged, frosted gilt full plate with square baluster pillars, fusee and chain, verge escapement, steel balance with flat balance spring, single-footed cock.Signed on the movement.Dim. 9 x 7 x 6 cm.

Ethiopian Caterpillar. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, Geneva, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- , diamond- , ruby- , emerald- , and turquoise-set automaton caterpillar, in fitted leather box.

C. In the form of a caterpillar, whose body is made up of 11 graduated segments, the top of each of translucent scarlet enamel over flinqué set with a different combination of pearls, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and turquoises, each segment terminated by a row of split pearls, the underside in black champlevé enamel with a gold pattern, the head decorated with black champlevé enamel. M. Brass, shaped, with fixed barrel, the 5-wheel train terminating with 4-wing fly governor. A cam sitting on the extension of the second wheel moves two levers up and down, resulting in a very realistic crawling motion, small knurled steel wheels running via contrate wheel meshing with the second wheel pinion, make the caterpillar move forward.Dim: Length 70 mm, thickness: 15 mm in the middle.

The Egyptian Lizard. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, Geneva, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- and emerald-set automaton lizard in original green leather fitted box.

C. In the form of a lizard with emerald eyes on a white enamel ground, hinged mouth, pink gold tongue, the body entirely inlaid with split pearls, the scales very skillfully simulated with black champlevé enamel and engraving, chased pearl-set gold feet, gold wire mesh tail. M. Brass, rectangular, with going barrel, the 3-wheel train. The second wheel (contrate) is fitted with a milled disc with two notches to produce a vibrating motion with two levers transferring it to the feet giving the feet a very realistic motion, the lizard moves via two small knurled steel wheels mounted on the last train pinion.Dim. Length 59 mm (180 with the tail), 12 mm thick at mid-body.

The Siberian Mouse. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- and ruby-set automaton mouse.

C. In the form of a mouse with ruby eyes, red enamel mouth and nose, the body entirely inlaid with oval split pearls, the fur very skillfully simulated with white champlevé enamel, chased gold feet, fine gold wire eyebrows and whiskers, gold ears and gold wire mesh tail. M. Brass, shaped, with fixed barrel, the 5-wheel train terminating with a pinion pivoted in eccentric adjustable bushing for regulating the mouse's speed. The mainspring barrel is milled with four cams; one moves two levers up and down giving a very realistic motion to the animal's feet, the mouse moves via two small knurled steel wheels mounted on a pinion driven by the second wheel, two other cams at one point lift two levers protruding from the stomach which lifts the mouse and stops her, the last cam controls the head movement.Dim. Length 57 mm (130 with the tail), 25 mm thick at mid-body.

The Mouse. Attributable to the workshop of Piguet et Capt, Geneva, circa 1805, probably retailed by Maillardet. Extremely fine and rare 18K gold and enamel, pearl- and black onyx-set automaton mouse.

C. In the form of a mouse with black onyx eyes, orange enamel mouth and nose, the body entirely inlaid with split pearls, the fur very skillfully simulated with blue and black champlevé enamel, chased gold feet, gold ears and gold wire mesh tail. M. Brass, shaped, with fixed barrel, the 5-wheel train terminating with a pinion pivoted in eccentric adjustable bushing for regulating the mouse's speed. The mainspring barrel is milled with four cams; one moves two levers up and down giving a very realistic motion to the animal's feet, the mouse moves via two small knurled steel wheels mounted on a pinion driven by the second wheel, two other cams, at one point,lift two levers protruding from the stomach which lifts the mouse and stops her, the last cam controls thehead movement.Dim. Length 55 mm (115 mm with the tail), 18 mm thick at mid-body.