Important Watches, Collector's Wristw...

The Ritz-carlton Hotel, Jun 06, 2004

LOT 489

Frères Rochat, Geneva, box by Georges Reymond, musical movement atributable to Piguet et Capt, made for the Chinese market, circa 1810. Exceptional and rare small 18K gold and enamel, pearl and turquoise-set singing bird box with music. Accompanied by the original fitted box.

HKD 600,000 - 900,000

EUR 65,000 - 100,000 / USD 77,000 - 120,000

Sold: HKD 515,000

C. Rectangular with rounded corners, elaborately chased and engraved with central engine-turned field and blue enamel flowers, central octagonal pearl-set frame to the spring-loaded cover, which is chased and engraved with a turquoise-set basket of flowers. Hinged lid opening to reveal finely engine-turned gold plate with winding apertures for musical movement and bird song and movement, sector for speed regulation, marked «V/L». Engine-turned sides with blue enamel accents, the corners with chased and enraved blue enamel floral motifs, hinged key compartment on one end. Two slides on the front, the first for selecting music or bird song. the second for activating the box. M. 65 x 47 x 19 mm, rectangular, gilt brass, going barrel and fusee.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 3

Good
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: -

Notes

FR (Frères Rochat). These three brothers from Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux were the sons of David Rochat (1746-1812), who had been received master in 1766 and who made a specialty of singing birds. They were: François Elisée Rochat, (1771-1836). Frédéric Rochat, (1774-1848). Samuel Henri Rochat, (1777-1854). David Rochat formed an association with these three sons around 1800. At the end of the 18th and in the early years of the 19th century David Rochat and sons had furnished bird ebauches to Jaquet Droz, and continued to do so when Jean-Frédéric Leschot took over the Jaquet Droz firm following Henry-Louis Jaquet Droz? death in 1792. In this they essentially followed the specifications given them by Jacob Frisard, the singing bird specialist of Jaquet Droz and Leschot. When Frisard, seeking to develop his own business, became less available after 1800, Leschot sought to replace him with the Rochats, but this collaboration was short-lived. After the death of their father in 1812, the three Rochat brothers moved to Geneva and went into business on their own account. They worked there, in the Terreaux de Chantepoulet, until about 1820, at which point Frederic and Samuel moved to the rue de Coutance 76, where they were later aided in their singing bird manufacture by Frederic?s sons Antoine-Frédéric Auguste (b. 1799) and Charles-Louis François (b. 1795) François, who continued in the Terreaux de Chantepoulet, was soon aided in his manufacture of singing bird pieces by his son Ami-Napoleon François (1807-1875, known as Ami). Georges Reymond active from 1783 to 1815-20. Became Master goldsmith on 22 December 1783 and struck his first Master mark. Seven years later he appears to have formed a company: Georges Rémond & Cie., which eventually became, circa 1800, Rémond, Mercier, Lamy & Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoléon, J.-G. Rémond recorded marks which were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge. From 1815 to 1820, the firm Lamy, Rémond, Mercier, Daniel Berton, used a similar mark, but no longer enclosed within a lozenge. It seems that Rémond retired or died during this partnership, since in 1820 a new firm of Mercier, Blondel and Berton was formed. However this new company only lasted a further seven years, until 14 April 1827. The present box is illustrated on p. 244 of «Flights of Fancy» by Sharon and Christian Bailly, Antiquorum Editions, 2001.