Important Watches, Wristwatches and c...

Geneva, Apr 20, 1996

LOT 113

Unsigned, ( Freres Rochat), Geneve, case by Georges Remond, made for the Chinese Market between 1805 and 1815. Retailed by A. Liodet, Place des Bergues, No. 8, a Geneve. Very fine and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, singing bird box with centre second musical watch, in original fitted box.

CHF 120,000 - 150,000

Sold: CHF 168,500

C. Two part rounded corners, entirely decorated with translucent blue enamel over engine-turning, the borders and corners with black champleve enamelled and chased foliage decoration, the hinged front panel with glazed dial aperture and split-pearl set bezel, hinged left side panel for the key compartment. The lid with split-pearl set borders, the singing bird cover enamelled with a finely painted scene depicting: "Le depart d'Hector" after a painting by Jean I I Rest out. (slightly restored). D. Small white enamel with Roman numerals. Blued steel hands. Gold dial-plate. M. Gilt brass with free standing barrel, cylinder escapement with plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring and regulator. Pin drum musical movement with two stacks of 7 steel vibrating blades. Singing Bird movement: Rectangular full plates with turned pillars, fusee with chain, cylindrical bellow, the multi-coloured feathered bird with moving wings, tail, beak and turning head, controlled by a stack of 8 cams, gold engraved grill. hl very good condition. Dim. 95 x 59 x 15 mm.


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Notes

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.