The Mondani Collection of Rolex Wrist...

Geneva, May 14, 2006

LOT 834

?Oiseau Chanteur? Frères Rochat and Frederic Cattelain, Geneva, No. 117. The musical and clockwatch movements by Frères Rochat, the singing bird movement by Frères Rochat and Frédéric Cattelain, the enamel case by Georges Rémond, circa 1810. Extremely fine and possibly unique, 18K gold painted on enamel and pearl-set singing bird box with music, center seconds and two-train petite sonnerie striking and repeating clockwatch. Accompanied by the original tooled red morocco fitted case.

CHF 200,000 - 250,000

EUR 130,000 - 160,000 / USD 155,000 - 200,000

Sold: CHF 233,000

C. Two-body, rectangular with rounded corners, the sides, top and base with panels of translucent Royal blue and deep blue enamel over engine-turned quatrefoil and acanthus leaf decoration within white and pale green champleve enamel geometric and leaf borders, the corners decorated with chased gold urns and black, pale blue and white champleve enamel, the top with pearl-set borders, hinged bird cover very finely painted on enamel with a spray of roses and summer flowers, the interior polished to reflect and magnify the bird, engraved gold grille, the front side panel with glazed pearl-bordered aperture displaying the watch and opening to allow winding, hand-setting and regulation, side compartment with hinged cover for the keys. D. White enamel with radial Roman numerals, outer dot minute markers. Blued steel ?Arrowhead? hands. The watch movement: 72 x 19 mm., gilt brass, spring barrels for the going and striking trains, jewelled cylinder escapement, plain flatrim three-arm brass balance, blued steel flat balance spring, rack and pinion regulation via an arbour in the engraved gold dial plate, petite sonnerie striking and repeating with two hammers on two blued steel oblong gongs activated by a lever in the edge of the case, strike/silent lever. The musical movement: 71 x 46 mm., sur plateau, with three-arm brass wheel fly governor, going barrel, large pinned brass disc with 32 tuned steel vibrating blades arranged radially, 16 on each side activated on the hour or at will by a lever in the edge of the case. The singing bird movement: 71 x 45 mm., gilt brass, fusee with chain, eight cams and serinette operated by rectangular bellows, the cams rotate four times per song and lift one step at every rotation allowing a longer duration of singing, multicolored feathered bird rotating on its axis, moving its wings and beak and turning its head, the cam controlling the raising of the bird and cover with five wheel train and pinion in eccentric bushing to regulate the speed of opening and closing. Box punched with the mark of J. G. Remond & Co used between 1804 and 1811. The musical and watch movements punched with the mark of Freres Rochat. The singing bird movement punched with the mark of Frères Rochat and signed F. Cattelain, Genève, with the Arms of Geneva. Dim. 90 x 63 x 32 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3-55

Good
Movement: 2

Very good
Dial: 3-01

Good

HANDS Original

Notes

The present box is to our knowledge the only example of a singing bird bow with a full petite sonnerie striking mechanism incorporated within the miniature watch movement ? a great technical achievement at this date. The existence of Frederic Cattelain?s signature on the bird movement in addition to that of Frères Rochat is unusual, showing that this was a very special piece. For a biography of Frères Rochat, see page 269. Frederic Cattelain Working in Geneva during the first half of the 19th Century, he was initially a pupil and workman for the Frères Rochat. He was particularly noted for his skill with singing bird mechanisms and manufactured objects for the Oriental market. His signature surrounds the Arms of Geneva.