The Sandberg Watch Collection

Hotel Richemond, Geneva, Mar 31, 2001

LOT 423

EveningAttributable to Jaquet-Droz, Geneva, No. 8, circa 1785.Magnificent and exceptional 18 ct. gold and enamel pearl- and ruby-set two-train singing bird watch, made for the Chinese market.

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Sold: CHF 597,500

C. Double-body, Louis XVI, the bezels set with alternating rubies and half pearls and enamelled with paillonné decoration over a blue ground, the pendant and bow decorated en suite. The enamel back painted with a scene of a young man playing the flute for a young shepherdess, the scene taken from an engraving by A. Conte after a painting 'Evening' by William Hamilton R.A., and set against a blue translucent enamel ground over engine-turning and framed by an elaborate white and blue enamel and pallonné cartouche, with outer paillonné and polychrome enamel decorative borders, with rosettes within four arches of the white frame. The rosette just above the whistle slides open to allow for the sound to be heard. D. Small eccentric white enamel with Roman chapters and outer minute ring. Gold pierced hands. Polished gold dial plate with split pearl border, applied with an enamelled cornucopia set with half-pearls, a flower at its top with translucent green enamel leaves and half pearl petals.The enamelled singing bird is perched above the dial on an applied gold branch with enamel leaves and two pearl-set flowers. M. 22.6 mmo, mounted independently on the singing bird movement, going barrel, cylinder escapement, brass escape wheel, plain gilt three-arm balance, flat balance spring.Singing bird movement: 45.1 mmo, circular, gilt brass full plate, cylindrical pillars, the back plate relieved for the circular bellows, fusée with chain wound by means of a slide in the band, the animation of the bird driven by means of two cams fitted above the two song cams, between the lower wheel and the fusee. The bird's song is modulated by means of a whistle with sliding piston.The number 8 scratched on the back of the dial plate, on the case and the movement. 'Benson Lot Bell January 1796' scratched on the main spring of the watch movement.Diam. 61 mm. Published in the Sandberg book, pages 272-273.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3 - 22
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

This is the earliest type of singing bird watch, of which only three or four are known to have survived. One was sold by Antiquorum in the sale The Art of Horology in Geneva, November 13, 1999, lot No. 66 and bearing number 1 scratched on. There is also one in the Sandoz Collection, which previously was in the Gustave Loup Collection.Prior to the invention of the whistle with sliding piston, which is generally attributed to the Jaquet-Droz in collaboration with their co-workers Jean-Frédéric Leschot and Jacob Frisard, the bird's song was rendered by organ pipes of the type used in serinettes (mechanical organs popular during the 18th century, used to teach canaries to sing). The result, though charming, was far from realistic and the organ pipes took up a great deal of space.The piston whistle was an innovation which allowed for the miniaturisation of the mechanism while also rendering a truly convincing imitation of bird song. The winding mechanism of this watch, by means of a slide in the band, presented the double advantage of taking up a small amount of space, and also making it less likely that the enamel of the case be damaged during winding.