The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 212

Piguet & Meylan, No. 764, singing bird movement by Frères Rochat, box maker: G.R. in a lozenge, Georges Reymond, Geneva, circa 1820.Very fine and rare, 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, singing bird box with centre-seconds concealed watch, made for the Chinese market. In original fitted box.

CHF 100,000 - 150,000

USD 60,000 - 90,000

Sold: CHF 102,500

C. Two-part, rectangular, rounded corners, the bird cover has an oval medallion painted on enamel with a bouquet of flowers on turquoise ground. The top, the panels on the sides, and the base of the box are decorated in opaque black enamel and translucent Imperial blue enamel over foliate engraving and guilloché. The back panel hinged for the key compartment. The top hinged lid, with split pearl-set borders, lifts separately from the bird cover showing the movement cover decorated with white chaplevé enamel with a vase of flowers and laurel garlands, azure frame with gold geometrical decoration. To the left of the medallion is the dial. D. Gold, white champlevé radial Roman chapters, minute and seconds divisions. Blued-steel 'spearhead' hands. M. Rectangular, 20 x 42 mm, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical columns, fixed barrel, train under one plate, cylinder escapement, brass escape wheel, plain gold three-arm balance, flat balance spring, escape wheel and balance under separate bridgs.Singing bird movement. Small rectangular brass, 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 raisig 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 cover medallion, and its speed.Stamped FR in oval on the bottom of the bird box movement, PM in lozenge on the pillar plate of the watch movement.Dim. 78 x 52 x 25 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 304-305.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 18
Movement: 2*

Very good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 2 - 01

Notes

Piguet Lot MeylanFor a biography, see page 224Rochat (Frères)For a biography, see lot 217Reymond Georgesactive 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: Georges Rémond Lot Cie., which eventually became, circa 1800, Rémond, Mercier, Lamy Lot Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoléon, J.-G. Rémond recorded marks which were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge. From 1815 to 1820, the firm Lamy, Rémond, Mercier, Dniel Berton, used a similar mark, but no longer enclosed by a lozenge. It seems that Rémond 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.Rémond's different Master marks: