Important Watches, Wristwatches and C...

Geneva, Hotel Des Bergues, Apr 12, 1997

LOT 597

Unsigned, attributable to Jacob Frisard, case by Georges Remond & Cie, Geneve, made for the Chinese Market, circa 1810. "Venus et Amour" Extremely fine 18K gold and enamel singing bird box with built-in watch.

CHF 60,000 - 80,000

Sold: CHF 69,000

C. Three body, rectangular with canted corners, side and back panels of blue and red translucent enamel over engine-turning in a foliate geometrical pattern, the borders with azure and white champleve enamelled decoration, white and blue enamelled palm-leaf ornaments on the canted corners. The enamel panel of the lid finely painted with a scene depicting "Venus at Amour", flanked on the left and on the lid of the watch compartment on the right, by blue and red enamelled guilloche urns within gold chased niche shaped frames with further floral decoration (left and back panels slightly restored). D. Gold engine-turned with Roman numerals on a polished chapter ring. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. Gilt brass full plate with cylindrical pillars, fusee with chain, plain brass three-arm balance, flat balance spring, gilt brass continental cock with polished steel end-piece. Singing bird movement: Rectangular full plate with turned pillars, fusee and chain, cylindrical bellow, the multi-coloured feathered bird with moving wings, tail, beak and turning head, controlled by a stack of 6 cams. This box is punched with the Master Mark used by Jean-Georges Remond from circa 1810 to 1815. In very good condition. Dim. 86 x 56 mm.


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Notes

The layout of the singing bird mechanism enable to attribute it to Jacob Frisard the famous maker, inventor of the device which enable the bird to be fold back in the box once the song is finished and close the lid. Jacob Frisard Born in Villaret, near St-Imier in 1753 worked in Leschot workshop where he was in charge of the singing birds. He setteled to his own circa 1800. He made highly complicated automaton pieces for the Emperor of China and worked for Henri Maillardet who used to send him singing bird blanks to be finished and tuned. tle died in central Europe in 1812. Jean-Georges Remond Geneva, Goldsmith, active from 1783 to 1815/20. Master Goldsmith 22 December 1783 and struck his first master mark. Seven years later he appears to have formed a company: George Remond & Cie., which eventually became circa 1800, Remond, Mercier, Lamy & Cie. During the French occupation of Switzerland by Napoleon, J.-G. Remond recorded marks which were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Departement of Leman, i.e. his initials within a lozenge. From 1815 to 1820, the firm Lamy, Remond, Mercier, Daniel Berton, used a similar mark, but no longer enclose by a lozenge. It seems that Remond 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. Remond ' s different Master Marks: