The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 413

Helen and ParisFrères Rochat, Geneva, No. 56, box maker: G.R. in a lozenge, Georges Reymond, Geneva, circa 1815.Magnificent and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel and pearl-set musical singing bird box with centre seconds and a quarter repeating watch, in original fitted box, made for the Chinese market.

C. Four-body, rectangular with rounded corners, the bottom and side panels of translucent red enamel over 'basket' engine-turning, the borders with champlevé floral decoration on a blue ground. The top panel with the oval medallion are within a half pearl-set frame. The painted enamel medallion on the bird cover depicts Helen and Paris. The bird cover is opened, the bird raised and set in motion, and the song started with a slide in the edge of the case. The articulated bird rotates, turns its had, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail.D. White enamel, Roman numerals with minute and seconds dot divisions. Blued-steel 'arrowhead' hands.M. 16 x 65 mm, rectangular, brass, going barrel, cylinder escapement, brass escape wheel, gold three-arm balance, blued-steel flat balance spring, striking on two rectangular-shaped gongs by sliding a bolt at the bottom of the case.The 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 multi-coloured 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 rising 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 order of raising of the bird and medallion, and its speed.Musical movement. Pin barrel playing with two stacks of eight tuned teeth each, with grasshopper teeth.Stamped 'FR' in oval and numbered on the movement.Dim. 84 x 59 x 27 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 300-301.