Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 484

Frères Rochat, Geneva, No. 457, made for the Chinese market, circa 1820. Very fine and rare, 18K varicolored gold and enamel singing bird box. Accompanied by original morocco fitted box.

C. Three-body, by ?C.I?, rectangular with rounded corners, the top with applied varicolored floral and foliate patterns, the spring-loaded bird cover finely painted on enamel with bouquet of flowers, engine-turned side panels with edges of applied green gold laurel leaf pattern, back panel hinged to reveal key compartment, slide in the front to activate the rising of the bird, which rotates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail. The bird is facing the inside of the mirror-polished, concave medallion, which enlarges the bird in its reflection, gold engraved grill.Singing bird movement. 74 x 41mm, rectangular brass, fusee and chain, eight cams and a whistle with sliding piston for the song's modulation, cams rotating four times per song and lifting one step every rotation, allowing a long duration of singing, typical Rochat lifting mechanism by additional cam gathering four pins on the lifting cam wheel. Complicated rising of the bird?s medallion and the bird with five-wheel train finished by a pinion in eccentric socket to regulate the speed of the opening and closing. This complicated mechanism allows for precision control of the raising of the bird and medallion, and its speed.Stamped "FR" in an oval on the back of the bird mechanism, along with the number, the box punched with maker?s mark and Geneva quality mark.Dim. 78 x 52 mm.