Geneva, Nov 10, 2024
FRÈRES ROCHAT, SWITZERLAND / GENEVA, ''OISEAU CHANTEUR, ALLEGORY OF GEOGRAPHY'', SINGING BIRD AND MUSICAL MOVEMENTS SIGNED ''FR'' FOR FRÈRES ROCHAT, CASE SIGNED ''GRC'' FOR JEAN-GEORGE RÉMOND, ENAMEL ATTRIBUTED TO JEAN-ABRAHAM LISSIGNOL, 18K YELLOW GOLD AND ENAMEL
A magnificent and extremely rare, 18k gold, enamel, pearl-set singing bird box with independent musical movement, manual wind rectangular case with rounded corners, all the panels entirely decorated with translucent Imperial blue enamel over engine-turning, borders with white and black champlevé enamel geometrical decoration, the outer lid opens on an engine-turned panel with the keyhole for the bird movement, on the side contains the key compartment, the other has the keyhole and button for the musical movement. The top panel with oval medallion concealing the bird very finely painted on enamel scene with a lady teaching the geography to two children within half-pearl-set frame. When the bird cover is opened, the bird rises and begins to move and the song starts, being activated by a slide on the front of the case. The articulated bird sings, rotates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail.
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Grade: |
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Movement: 3 |
Good |
Brand Frères Rochat, Switzerland / Geneva
Model ''Oiseau Chanteur, Allegory of geography''
Year Circa 1813
Length 960
Caliber Small rectangular brass (77 X 55 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, beak, and turning head rotating on its axis. It is facing the inside of the medallion which is mirror polished and concave, enlarging the bird in its reflection, gold engraved grill. 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.Musical movement (38 X 19 mm.): Pin barrel playing with two stacks of 24 tuned teeth total, with grasshopper-shaped vibrating tuned blades, activated by a button on the side of the case.
Height 250
Width 600
Signature Case signed ''GRC'' for George Rémond, Singing bird movement signed ''FR'' for Frères Rochat, Enamel attributed to Jean Abraham Lissignol