Important Modern & Vintage Timepieces

Geneva, May 10, 2025

LOT 488

CHARLES BRUGUIER, SWITZERLAND, SINGING BIRD BOX, SILVER GILT AND ENAMEL

CHF 7,000 - 14,000

HKD 67,000 - 134,000 / USD 8,600 - 17,200 / EUR 7,600 - 15,100

Sold: CHF 23,750

A very fine and rare, gilt silver and enamel top-winding singing bird box, manual wind two part rectangular case with lobed corners, base engine-turned, front and side panels engraved with geometrical decoration, the cover with applied silver gilt foliage ornament chiseled in high relief. the hinged bird cover in gold with enamel painted showing a river with a mountain landscapelake background. Slide in the front to activate the raising of the bird, which rotates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail. Hinged compartment for the key at the back.


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3

Good

Brand Charles Bruguier, Switzerland

Model SINGING BIRD box

Year Circa 1840-1850

Movement No. 79

Length 90

Caliber Rectangular, brass, turned pillars, fusee and chain, rectangular bellows, bird with moving head, flapping wings, opening beak and tail, eight cams controlling the piston and the bird's beak and tail, two additional for the other movements, long duration of song with natural bird song alternating with a melody, precision cam-controlled lifting mechanism, gold grill pierced and engraved with floral pattern.

Height 32

Width 57

Signature movement numbered

Accessories tipsy winding-key

Notes

Charles-Abraham Bruguier was born in Geneva in1788 and died in 1862. He 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 Freres Rochat) the secrets of successfully recreating "bird-song", and he achieved considerable improvements in the design of the movements.