A SWISS ENAMELLED SILVER-GILT SINGING-BIRD BOX

BY CHARLES BRUGUIER, SIGNED, GENEVA, CIRCA 1850

細節

A SWISS ENAMELLED SILVER-GILT SINGING-BIRD BOX
by Charles Bruguier, signed, Geneva, circa 1850
Rectangular box with lobed corners, the sides and base engine-turned with foliate strapwork, the cover engine-turned with scrolls partially enamelled in blue, the four corners enamelled with flowersprays on a blue ground, the border enamelled in lavender blue and engraved with gold taille d'épargne stylized flowerheads, the slightly raised side rims stamped with scrolls and foliage, a slide on the front side opening the hinged oval flap enamelled with a view of Lake Geneva and releasing the mechanism of the colourfully plumed bird rotating on its axis, flapping its wings, wagging its tail, turning its head and opening its beak; with fusee movement, stack of eight cams controlling the bird movements, and rear key compartment
98 mm. (3.7/8 in.) wide

拍品專文

The movement is struck with mark "C.BRUGUIER A GENEVE" and numbered 242, and scratched with signature in script "Charles Bruguier rue des Pâquis No 5 à Genève Suisse".
Charles Bruguier (Geneva 1788-1862) improved the mechanism of singing-bird boxes and later entirely specialised in their production. He was succeeded by his sons and his grandson Jacques Bruguier. More information on Bruguier can be found in Alfred Chapuis and Edouard Gélis, Le monde des automates, Paris, 1928, II, p. 88.
A similar box by Bruguier, with identical signature and numbered 253, was sold in our London South Kensington rooms, sale of Mechanical Music, 9 December 1993, lot 114 (£5,500).