A PEARL-SET GOLD AND ENAMEL SINGING BIRD BOX, FRÈRES ROCHAT, GENEVA, CIRCA 1820
A PEARL-SET GOLD AND ENAMEL SINGING BIRD BOX, FRÈRES ROCHAT, GENEVA, CIRCA 1820
rectangular, the box engine-turned on all sides within dark blue taille d'épargne enamel borders, the oval enamel lid, framed by pearls and painted with a bouquet of summer flowers on a stone table, lifting to reveal a small feathered bird automaton with an ivory beak flapping its wings, the movement struck with maker's mark FR and serial number 67, unofficial PC3 18 ct standard mark
7.8cm., 3 in. wide
In the late 18th century, the family business of David Rochat and sons of Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux between Geneva and Neuchâtel acted as a sub-contractor of Jaquet-Droz & Leschot and later worked for Leschot alone. Following Leschot's retirement around 1809 and David Rochat's death in 1812, three of his six sons moved to Geneva to set up business as mécaniciens or makers of complicated automaton movements, above all their speciality of singing birds, working together until the late 1820s. The name of Frères Rochat at that time was and is synonymous with singing bird box movements of the highest quality, reliability and artistry. The birds' songs are unbelievably pure and clear in tone even today two hundred years later.
Condition Report:
To request a Condition Report, please contact Alexandra.Starp@sothebys.com
Provenance:
The Sir David Salomons Collection, cat. no 174
Vera Bryce Salomons
L.A. Mayer Memorial Institute, Jerusalem, inventory no. BO 1-70
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A PEARL-SET GOLD AND ENAMEL SINGING BIRD BOX, FRÈRES ROCHAT, GENEVA, CIRCA 1820
rectangular, the box engine-turned on all sides within dark blue taille d'épargne enamel borders, the oval enamel lid, framed by pearls and painted with a bouquet of summer flowers on a stone table, lifting to reveal a small feathered bird automaton with an ivory beak flapping its wings, the movement struck with maker's mark FR and serial number 67, unofficial PC3 18 ct standard mark
7.8cm., 3 in. wide
In the late 18th century, the family business of David Rochat and sons of Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux between Geneva and Neuchâtel acted as a sub-contractor of Jaquet-Droz & Leschot and later worked for Leschot alone. Following Leschot's retirement around 1809 and David Rochat's death in 1812, three of his six sons moved to Geneva to set up business as mécaniciens or makers of complicated automaton movements, above all their speciality of singing birds, working together until the late 1820s. The name of Frères Rochat at that time was and is synonymous with singing bird box movements of the highest quality, reliability and artistry. The birds' songs are unbelievably pure and clear in tone even today two hundred years later.
Condition Report:
To request a Condition Report, please contact Alexandra.Starp@sothebys.com
Provenance:
The Sir David Salomons Collection, cat. no 174
Vera Bryce Salomons
L.A. Mayer Memorial Institute, Jerusalem, inventory no. BO 1-70
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
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