Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces.

Hong Kong, Oct 27, 2018

LOT 329

CHARLES BRUGUIER SINGING BIRD BOX, GILDED SILVER

HKD 200,000 - 300,000

CHF 25,000 - 37,500 / USD 25,650 - 38,500

Sold: HKD 250,000

Gilded silver, enamel, key-winding, horizontal rectangular-shaped, singing bird box The enamel scene painting on the copper cover showing a lakeside landscape inspired by the Vierwaldstättersee (literally "Lake of the Four Forested Settlements" or in French "Lac des Quatre-Cantons"), near Luzern.


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Grading System
Grade: AA

Very good
Case: 2-30-77

Very good

Alterations

ENAMEL AND VARIOUS TYPES OF DECORATION Restored soft enamel
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Brand Charles Bruguier

Year Circa 1850-1860

Movement No. 126

Caliber Rectangular (85 x 45 mm) brass, with fusee and chain, bellows and cams

Dimensions 91 x 57.5 x 33 mm.

Signature Movement (engraved with a dry point // an etchin.edle)

Accessories Winding-key

Notes

Bruguier, Charles (1788-1862), Geneva Genevan mechanician. Charles-Abraham Bruguier spent the first years of his career working for other manufacturers making automata, before returning to Geneva and establishing his own business. His workshops continued under the guidance of his two sons, followed by his grandson. Bruguier understood better than his predecessors (Jaquet-Droz, Leschot and Les Frères Rochat) the secrets of successfully recreating "bird-song", and he achieved considerable improvements in the design of the movements.