184,000 HKD
Attributable to Piguet et Meylan, Genève, circa 1815. Very fine and very rare 18K gold and enamel musical sur plateau snuffbox playing two tunes. Accompanied by morocco fitted case. Rectangular with oval corners, by “ICI”, three-body, the hinged lid centered by a harp and a guitar in azure and royal blue enamel, flanked by engine-turned panels, borders in royal blue acanthus leaves, side panels and base en suite, pin at the left side for changing the tune, at the back for activating. Rectangular, 76 x 51 mm, brass, sur plateau pinned disc type with 26 tuned vibrating blades on one side and 25 on the other, each playing different tune by shifting the disc up and down via a lever controlled from the outside, 4-arm fly pinion governor.Box punched with maker’s mark.Dim. 79 x 54 x 16 mm. Notes “Sur plateau” movements playing two melodies are extremely rare, due to the technical prowess they require. The musical movement of this box bears a striking resemblance to one sold by Antiquorum, 11 October 2003, No. 89, sold for 130,000 SFr.
Auctioneer:
Antiquorum
Date:
2004-06-06
