790,000 HKD
Charles Abraham Bruguier, Geneva, circa 1830. Extremely fine and rare gilt-bronze, silver and enamel singing bird cage. Cylindrical form with eight Corinthian columns supporting the arched dome decorated below with an applied garland of painted enamel flowers, the cage work of pierced and chased floral and foliate design, with alternate silver garlands and opening doors to the front, the body with applied musical trophies and silver floral bouquets, acanthus mouldings, cast lion paw feet and ball finial with rope twist suspension ring. Large multicolour feathered bird with moving wings, tail, turning head and swivelling body. Brass plates, turned pillars, fusee with chain, circular bellow, eight lifting cams, the bird operating mechanism on the top plate. Bruguier trademark punched on the movement. Dim. 30 x 13 cm. Notes Although of slightly different form, this cage is very similar to that sold by Antiquorum in Tokyo on December 16, 1990, lot 288. Charles Abraham Bruguier Charles-Abraham Bruguier, was born 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 understood better than his predecessors (Jaquet-Droz, Leschot and Les Freres Rochat) the secrets of successfully recreating "bird-song", and he achieved considerable i mprovements in the design of the move Read more…
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
1999-06-07
