515,000 HKD
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. 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. 65 x 47 x 19 mm, rectangular, gilt brass, going barrel and fusee. 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
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-06-06
