Antiquorum Auctioneers since 1974

Geneva, May 10, 2026

LOT 442

FRÈRES ROCHAT, SWITZERLAND, MINIATURE SINGING BIRD BOX, MOVEMENT SIGNED ''FR'' FOR FRÈRES ROCHAT, THE MONT- BLANC VIEW FROM LAC LEMAN PAINTED ENAMEL COVER, GOLD AND ENAMEL, GOLD AND ENAMEL

CHF 40,000 - 80,000

HKD 398,000 - 800,000 / USD 51,000 - 102,000 / EUR 43,300 - 87,000 / JPY 8,070,000 - 16,130,000

Sold: CHF 100,000

An extremely fine, rare and small, 18k gold, enamel and pearls set singing bird box, manual wind Rectangular case with rounded corners, all panels entirely decorated with translucent Imperial blue enamel over engine-turning. Borders and top panel enhanced with light blue and black champlevé enamel and gold geometrical decoration. The back side contains the key compartment; on the right side a small panel with a gold medallion for engraving a monogram. Keyhole to wind the movement on the back plate. The top panel with an oval medallion concealing the bird, very finely painted on enamel with a scene depicting a view of Mont Blanc from Lake Geneva. In the foreground, a spinner and a shepherd with their small flock of goats and sheep symbolize the peaceful life of Switzerland; the lake with sailing boats in the middle distance; and in the background the snow-capped mountains. The articulated bird sings, rotates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail.


LOADING IMAGES
Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view Click to full view
Image Image Image Image Image Image Image
Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-32

Good

Slightly restored
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense

Brand Frères Rochat, Switzerland

Year Circa 1820

Movement No. 481

Caliber Small rectangular brass (70 X 40 mm.), 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, the multicoloured feathered bird with moving wings and turning head rotating on its axis. 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.

Length 73

Height 25

Width 50

Signature Singing bird movement signed ''FR'' for Frères Rochat

Accessories later box with key

Notes

“F R” (Frères Rochat)

The Rochat brothers are the sons of David Rochat (1746-1812), who was received as a master watchmaker in 1766; they are: François-Elisée (1771-1836), Frédéric (1774-1848) and Samuel-Henri (1777-1854).

David Rochat and his sons worked for the Jaquet-Droz and Leschot, supplying them with ébauches (blanks mechanisms) for singing-bird mechanisms in the late 18th century.

Around 1813, the three Rochat brothers moved to Geneva and set up on their own, soon splitting into two groups. François remained alone (later helped by his son, Ami-Napoléon, 1807-1875), and Frédéric and Samuel worked together (with Frédéric’s sons, Louis-Charles, and Antoine).

It is generally thought that “F R” represents these Rochat brothers, although it is possible that the “F R” signature represents a single name: François Rochat or Frédéric Rochat.

There were other Rochats working in Geneva at this time! Among them, Louis Rochat (1781-1858), originally from the Abbaye in the Vallée de Joux. He is considered to be the maker of a piece with a clock, two singing-birds and a magician (now in the Beijing Museum) which won a prize at the “Réunion des Industriels” de Genève in 1829.

In 1814, Louis and his brother François (1792-1838) formed an association with Pierre-Daniel Campiche called “Frères Rochat et Compagnie”.

To complicate matters, there are many family and professional links between the various Rochats. For example, Louis Rochat of the Abbaye worked with Antoine (son of Frédéric) for a time, around 1850.

It is clear, however, that the Rochat family produced many of the finest and most complex singin-bird objects available.