Although not signed, this singing bird box can be attributed to the Freres Rochat, for its movements, both the watch and the musical trains, as well as the singing bird movement, are identical to those of the box sold by Antiquorum in Geneva on 16th October 1994, lot No. 563, with the movement signed with the Rochat master mark. Freres Rochat of Geneva (Amy Napoleon et Louis) watchmakers 140 rue de Coutance between 1810 and 1835, apprenticed with their father. Worked for Meylan in Brassus, then for Jaquet- Droz and Leschot. They set up on their own circa 1810. They produced most of the best complicated automata and singing bird boxes of the period. Jean-Georges Remond, Geneva, Goldsmith, active from 1783 to 1815/20. Master Goldsmith 22 December 1783, and struck his first master mark. Seven years later he appears to have formed a company: George Remond & Cie., which eventually became circa 1800, Remond, Mercier, Lamy & Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoleon, J.G. Remond recorded marks which were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Departement of Leman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge. From 1815 to 1820, the firm Lamy, Remond, Mercier, Daniel Berton, used a similar mark, but no longer enclosed by a lozenge. It seems that Remond retired or died during this partnership, since in 1820 a new firm of Mercier, Blondel and Berton was formed. However this new company only lasted a further seven years, until 14 April 1827. Remond's different master marks: VI) circa 1780-1790 11/1/1! G R circa 1790-1800 C I G R L circa 1810-1815 R&C &C circa 1810-1815 1815 - before 1820 Jean II Restout was born in Rouen in 1692, and died in Paris in 1768. Eminent artist, Academicien, he was de Jouvenet's nephew. He left several religious and mythological paintings in a tragy/heroic style.