The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 419

Helen and ParisFrères Rochat, Geneva, box maker: G.R. in a lozenge, Georges Reymond, Geneva, circa 1815.Magnificent and rare 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set musical singing bird box with centre seconds watch made for the Chinese market.

C. Four-body, rectangular with rounded corners, the bottom and side panels of translucent blue and black enamel over engine-turning, the borders with blue and black champlevé floral decoration. The hinged right-side panel covers the key compartment. The singing bird medallion painted with a scene of the abduction of Helen by Paris, within a half pearl frame. The bird cover opens, the bird raised and set in motion, and the song started with a slide in the edge of the case. The articulated bird roates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail. D. Gold, chased and engraved, raised Arabic numerals with dot minute divisions. Blued-steel 'spearhead' hands. M. Rectangular, brass, mounted on the same pillar plate as the musical movement, fixed barrel, cylinder escapement, brass three-arm balance, blued-steel flat balance spring, rack and pinion regulator. Gold mask with apertures for winding all three movements, setting and regulating.Singing bird movement. Small rectangular brass, fusee and chain, eight cams controlling the circular bellows and the whistle. The cams rotate four times per song and lift one step every rotation, allowing for a long duration of singing, the multi-coloured feathered bird with moving wings, beak, and turning head rotating on its axis. Facing the inside of the gold medallion which is mirror-polished and concave, enlarging the bird in its reflection, gold engraved grill. Cam-controlled raising of thmedallion and the bird with five-wheel train finished by a pinion in eccentric bushing to regulate the speed of the raising as well as opening and closing. The mechanism, although complicated, allows for precision control of the raising of the bird and the medallion, and its speed.Musical movement: pinned barrel playing on 24-tooth sectional comb, five-wheel train with last pinion in eccentric, adjustable bushing to regulate the tempo.Stamped 'FR' in oval and on the movement.Dim. 95 x 59 x 25 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 298-299.