• Centuries of Style: Silver, Eu auction at Christies

    Sale 10398

    Centuries of Style: Silver, European Ceramics, Portrait Miniatures and Gold Boxes

    London

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    1 - 2 December 2015

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    • A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED GOL
    Lot 303

    A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED GOLD MUSICAL SINGING BIRD-BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT MINIATURE

    THE CASE BY GEORGE RÉMOND & COMPAGNIE (1805-1815), WITH THE MARK OF PIGUET & CAPT (1802-1811), THE SINGING-BIRD MECHANISM ATTRIBUTED TO FRÈRES ROCHAT (1800-1835), GENEVA, CIRCA 1810

    Price realised

    GBP 120,100

    Estimate

    GBP 100,000 - GBP 150,000

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    A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED GOLD MUSICAL SINGING BIRD-BOX SET WITH A PORTRAIT MINIATURE
    THE CASE BY GEORGE RÉMOND & COMPAGNIE (1805-1815), WITH THE MARK OF PIGUET & CAPT (1802-1811), THE SINGING-BIRD MECHANISM ATTRIBUTED TO FRÈRES ROCHAT (1800-1835), GENEVA, CIRCA 1810
    rectangular box, the cover, sides and base set with panels of translucent dark-blue enamel on an engine-turned ground, the cover centred by an oval hinged lid set with an enamel miniature of Mahmud II (1789-1839), 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1808-1839), surrounded by a split-pearl border, on release of the automaton on the right of the front panel, the lid opening to reveal the singing bird and a gold engraved grill, activated on request, the bird will rotate on its axis, flap its wings and tail and turn its head, in time to a realistically imitated bird song, the bird also set with realistic multi-coloured feathers, when the song has finished the bird will automatically retreat inside the box and the lid will close, one hinged end panel opening to reveal a winding square with a regulation screw to the right engraved L-V (Lente/Vite) below and a small button to the right to activate the musical mechanism, associated key
    4 in. (98 mm.) wide
    The music mechanism has a pinned barrel movement, of small size, fitted at one end of the box, attributed to Piguet & Capt, the bird mechanism with chain fusée and bellows attributed to Frères Rochat.

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    Lot Essay

    The case is the work of one of Geneva's most celebrated case-makers, Jean-Georges Rémond, renowned "monteur de boîtes en or" or maker of gold cases. In 1790 he founded Georges Rémond & Cie., excelling in elaborate gold cases for watches and snuff boxes, often destined for the export to the Orient. During the French occupation of Switzerland (1798-1815) by Napoléon, J.-G. Rémond’s recorded marks were in accordance with the laws of the newly formed Département of Léman. During this time his initials appear within a lozenge. Rémond & Cie. worked for Les Frères Rochat, Piguet & Capt, Jaquet-Droz & Leschot and Frisard, the cases often decorated with enamel scenes by Lissignol, Richter, Dupont and others. Isaac Daniel Piguet (1775-1841) and Henry Capt (1773-1841), were important watchmakers, goldsmiths and jewellers who worked in partnership from 1802-1811 and specialized in musical and automaton watches. Capt, Piguet's brother-in-law, was one of the first in Geneva to use the pinned cylinder and tuned-tooth comb musical mechanism. The brothers François-Elisée, Frédéric and Samuel-Henri Rochat were active in Geneva from around 1800 to 1835. Apprenticed by their father Pierre Rochat in Brassus, they worked as watchmakers for Jaquet-Droz et Leschot before moving to Geneva in order to set up their own business. The highly talented brothers quickly joined the illustrious elite of the greatest makers of the highly complex singing bird mechanisms and automaton watches which they supplied also to other manufacturers. The Rochats were famous for their perfection of the singing bird mechanism by adding larger amounts of cams, hence rendering the bird's movements more natural, and for the enhancing of the quality of the sound by using piston rods.
    Mahmud II (1789-1839), 30th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1808-1839), was born in the Topkapi Palace, Constantinople, the posthumous son of Sultan Abdul Hamid I. His reign is recognized for the extensive administrative, military, and fiscal reforms he instituted, which culminated into the Decree of Tanzimat, or Reorganisation, that was carried out by his sons Abdülmecid I and Abdülaziz I. Often known as "Peter the Great of Turkey", Mahmud's reforms included the 1826 abolishment of the conservative Janissary corps, which removed a major obstacle to his and his successors reforms in the Empire.

    Other information

    Special Notice


    Prospective purchasers are advised that several countries prohibit the importation of property containing materials from endangered species, including but not limited to coral, ivory and tortoiseshell. Accordingly, prospective purchasers should familiarize themselves with relevant customs regulations prior to bidding if they intend to import this lot into another country.
    These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.


    Saleroom Notice

    The enamel miniature is not of Mahmud II but is of his eldest son and heir Abdulmecid I (1823-1861) 31st Sultan of the Ottoman Empire (1839-1861).


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