Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Hong-kong, Jun 08, 2002

LOT 204

Attributed to Charles Abraham Bruguier, Geneva, No. 386, circa 1840.Extremely fine and rare gilt bronze singing bird cage with two birds and watch.

HKD 1,150,000 - 1,550,000

EUR 165,000 - 225,000 / USD 150,000 - 200,000

Sold: HKD 1,615,000

C. Gilt bronze octagonal, body and base, standing on four cast and chased scalloped shell feet, the bottom section containing the movements, with acanthus leaf moldings and further floral decoration, the watch dial below the hinged doors of the cage supported on four pairs of twinned columns with pierced gilt floral scroll dividers, gilt brass side panels made of lattice openwork with fleurette intersections. The dome fixed between cast and chased acanthus scroll pediments with the pierced tileattern sides and corners decorated with florally scrolled panel, a double acanthus leaf support for the ring handle. The birds inside the cage, supported on bars between side pillars. Moving their bodies, wings, tails, opening their beaks and turning their heads, the birds sing one after another, seeming to reply to each other's song. D. White enamel, radial Roman numerals. Blued steel Breguet hands. M. Brass plates, turned pillars, fusee with chain, fly regulator, circular bellow, eight liftincams, the bird operating mechanism on the top plate. Watch: Later gilt-brass three-quarter plate movement with cylinder escapement, the white enamel dial with Roman numerals.Dim. 33 x 13 x 13 cm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

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

Notes

Charles Abraham BruguierBorn in Geneva in 1788, he spent the first years of his career working for other manufacturers making automata, before returning to Geneva and establishing his own business. His workshops continued under the guidance of his two sons, followed by his grandson. Bruguier made several changes in the design of singing bird movements, as compared to those of his predecessors (Jaquet Droz, Leschot and the frères Rochat). His early works, of which this cage is an example, are considered the finest "singng" mechanisms ever made in a small size. Bird cages of this period are very rare, with only six known to exist in gold cases and a similar number in gilt metal.This piece is illustrated on p. 294 of "Flights of Fancy", by Sharon and Christian Bailly, Antiquorum Editions, 2001.