A fine and early singing bird box, by Charles Bruguier,
circa 1825,
No. unknown,
the fusee movement stamped to ratchet side of the springplate C. BRUGUIER Á GENEVA, with the GUIER of BRUGUIER interestingly scratched out unsympathetically, the serial number uniquely absent from any other areas of the movement, the bird with multi-coloured plumage, moving head, beak, wings and tailfeather to 1-2-3-4 sequential birdsong from the eight-cam stack and rectangular bellows, rising through pierced and chased gilt grille, the lid interior with enamel of a floral spray on yellow ground, lid with complete automatic lid-lock mechanism, the lid top with slightly-domed painted enamel study of Lac Leman, with the tree-crowned pentagonal island with interconnecting jetties beside shoreline street with tall dwellings, the south shore with waiting paddle steamer boarding passengers, with a line of people waving them off, the water quite calm with empty canoe at the bridge, a small sailing ship in the distance, and the north shore peninsula with hilltop before the barren mountains beyond, the sun with slight ray bursts casting shadows by the buildings, with geometrically chased flower head and C scroll border, in plain deep-toned polished tortoiseshell case, with hidden key compartment at rear, start/stop button front-right in yellow metal, with a key - 3.5/8in. (9.2cm) wide
No. unknown,
the fusee movement stamped to ratchet side of the springplate C. BRUGUIER Á GENEVA, with the GUIER of BRUGUIER interestingly scratched out unsympathetically, the serial number uniquely absent from any other areas of the movement, the bird with multi-coloured plumage, moving head, beak, wings and tailfeather to 1-2-3-4 sequential birdsong from the eight-cam stack and rectangular bellows, rising through pierced and chased gilt grille, the lid interior with enamel of a floral spray on yellow ground, lid with complete automatic lid-lock mechanism, the lid top with slightly-domed painted enamel study of Lac Leman, with the tree-crowned pentagonal island with interconnecting jetties beside shoreline street with tall dwellings, the south shore with waiting paddle steamer boarding passengers, with a line of people waving them off, the water quite calm with empty canoe at the bridge, a small sailing ship in the distance, and the north shore peninsula with hilltop before the barren mountains beyond, the sun with slight ray bursts casting shadows by the buildings, with geometrically chased flower head and C scroll border, in plain deep-toned polished tortoiseshell case, with hidden key compartment at rear, start/stop button front-right in yellow metal, with a key - 3.5/8in. (9.2cm) wide
Sold for
£7,800
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Reference: Mechanical Singing-bird Tabatiéres, G. T. Mayson, pp.125-127.
The steamship seen moored by the shore, is likely to be the William Tell, which was in service on, what is now, Lake Geneva between 1823-1827, although we must also assume that this scene was popular enough to be reproduced after this time.
A Bruguier box bearing a very similar enamel study is No. 107, so one would assume, based on the yearly output of these workshops in addition to the service dates of the vessel, this is a box which answers to the number of between 95-135. One of the more usual areas where further marks can be found, is inside the boards of the bellows; however, accessing this chamber would be unfavourable, due to the removal of the period bellow material.
Further research also should be sought into investigating the rubbing out of the maker's name. This has not been seen before and the only obvious conclusion at this time is if a rival or retailer, wishing to sell this on as their own creation, had an opportunity to deface this stamp.
Category: Collectibles / Mechanical Music
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