Important Collectors’ Wristwatches, P...

Geneva, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Du Rhône, May 13, 2007

LOT 197

?The William Tell on Lake Geneva? Charles Bruguier, Rue des Pâquis 5 à Genève, No. 359. Made circa 1865. Fine, tortoiseshell, gold and enamel singing bird box, made to commemorate the maiden voyage of the ?William Tell?, the first steam ship on Lake Geneva.

C. Rectangular, entirely made of tortoiseshell, painted on enamel oval lid depicting the maiden voyage of the William Tell I, the Salève and Mont Blanc in the background, the inside painted with a bouquet of spring flowers. M. Rectangular, 86 x 45 mm, brass, turned pillars, fusee and chain, rectangular bellows, bird with moving head, flapping wings, opening beak and tail, eight cams controlling the piston and the bird's beak and tail, two additional for the other movements, long duration of song, precision camcontrolled lifting mechanism, gold grille pierced and engraved with floral decoration. Movement punch signed ?Bruguier a Geneve?, also scratch signed ?Charles Bruguier, Rue des Paquis 5, Geneve?. Dim. 96 x 65 mm.