Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Oct 17, 1993

LOT 354

Charles Abraham Bruguier, Geneva, made for an Ottoman Royal Family, circa 1830. Extremely rare and fine silver gilt, enamel and gold mounted bird cage, with five singing and flying birds, automaton, musical box and watch with grande sonnerie striking.

CHF 0 - 0

Signature: Makers punch mark for Charles Bruguier in two places on the movement, enamel dial signed for retailers mark Moulinié Ainé et Ce. A Geneve, main spring signed Dumesmeley and dated 1829, movement No. 3915, bells signed Scherer. Case. Exterior: Octagonal body and base of silver gilt standing on four cast and chased winged lion mask feet, the bottom section containing the movements, with acanthus mouldings, elaborate cast and chased vari-coloured gilt scroll side panels within black and white enamelled gold frames, the front cover hinged for access to the winding and regulating apertures, the corners each inset with a square enamel panel depicting Swiss mountain and lakeside scenes of The ' Pisse-Vache' waterfall, The 'Vallée de l'Arve' with a view of Mont-Blanc, The 'Rade de Genève et le Salève' seen from Bellevue, and one other with a Castle, the cage supported on four pairs of twinned columns with pierced vari-coloured gilt floral scroll dividers, side panels and opening front door, the dome fixed between cast and chased acanthus scroll pediments with the pierced file pattern sides and corners decorated with vari- coloured gilt florally scrolled panel work and all set with small black and white enamelled gold floral motifs, a double acanthus leaf support for the shaped ring handle. Interior: The birds supported on bars between side pillars, three with turned terminais, the fourth carrying a nest containing the young birds (note 1), the base also pierced to release the sound, the centre with a gold and translucent enamelled revolving catherine wheel. Dial. Small circular white enamel watch dial with Turkish hour numerals, blued-steel moon hands with counterpoised sweep centre-seconds. Movement. Clockwatch: Rectangular gilt plates, two train with going arbors. Cylinder escapement with plain three arm gold alloy balance, flat balance spring with regulator. Grande/petite sonnerie on two bells. Music Box: Mounted within the bird train assembly with pin drum and one piece comb playing four tunes with helical geared fly. Singing Bird Mechanism: Octagonal multi layered brass plates with fusee and chain, circular bellows with two independent whistles controlled by a stack of eight cams, with a further nine cams to control the young bird song and the automated movements, entire mechanism enclosed within brass dust protection plates carrying the eight control levers (note 2). With finely tooled and gilt shaped fitted leather case and keys of Turkish crescent moon and star pattern. In excellent condition. Dims: 26cm high, excluding handle, 11.5cm. square case.


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Notes

Note 1. The perplexity of the movements executed by the birds in this cage would appear to be unique, certainly in view of the miniature size. The movements are as follows:- the 'male' bird begins to sing as the doors of the cage open outwards. The bird then 'flies' from the centre perch to a perch in the doorway. The head turns, beak opens and closes, wings and tait flap and the bird revolves upon its perch. The 'female' bird 'flies' also from the centre perch to the back rail where the three young chicks are in the nest. They ' chirp' periodically in expectation of being fed and the centre chick moves tait, wings and beak and also turns from side to side, whilst the two smaller birds also move their beaks. In response the female bobs her head appearing to feed her young whilst also moving the tait and the wings, opening and closing the beak and turning on her perch. Towards the end of the song both the parent birds return to the centre perch and continue their song while the door of the cage close. Throughout the bird song the central enamelled catherine wheel at the bottom of the cage spins whilst a star also revolves in the opposite direction. There are eight gold levers set into the edge of the cage allowing for various settings for the music, bird song and clock striking mechanism. Their position is shown on the diagram, and the functions are as follows:- Clock; 1. Grande sonnerie/petite sonnerie 2. Strike/silent Musical box; 1. Play music at will 2. Play /not play music following the hour striking 3. Tune change/ not change Bird mechanism; 1. Release bird mechanism at will 2. Play /or not play bird song following striking of the hours 3. Play/not play bird mechanism with music following striking of the hours Any combination of the various alternatives can be set. Charles Abraham Bruguier I, (born Geneva 1788, died 1862). Apprenticed to Freres Rochat, worked on his own account at 51, rue du Grand-Pré. He benefited from the work of his predecessors, and became the most technically accomplished of all the mechanical bird manufacturers. The exactitude of the workmanship in the cage is proof of his skills, not only as a constructor, but also as a designer. Moulinié Ainé et Ce., probably the firm recorded as working in the Rue de la Cité, and exhibitors at the Exposition de Genève in 1828. Scherer Freres, signature found often on mainsprings, notably on bird boxes, cages and automatons.