Jon Baddeley
Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine
Lot 25
An exceptional silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier, circa 1830,
3 May 2012, 13:00 BST
London, KnightsbridgeSold for £34,850 inc. premium
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An exceptional silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier,
circa 1830,
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one of the earliest J. Bruguier boxes seen
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with fusse movement with eight cam-stack for the birdsong in early 1-1-2-3-2-3-4 sequence, number only stamped beside main ratchet, near to repair's mark from 1971, the bird with multi-coloured layered plumage with the tones in red, purple, turquoise and dark brown, subtle iridescent highlights in green and orange specks, moving bone beak, head, wings and tailfeather to the sequential birdsong, rising through the finely pierced and tooled gilt grille, the lid interior with a fine enamel study of a flower spray against pastel turquiose ground, the lid top with a sailing boat and rowing boat on a lake with figures on the shore, woodland to banks and vast mountainous landscape beyond, petit black enamel fan crest to top, within diamond wreath border, the silver-gilt case of squat sarcophagus form, tooled detail of flowerhead spandrels to main lid top, twin oval frieze band to side and large geometric cartouche to underside within further tooled detail, with period ratchet key (spring soldered), and a document relating to minor restoration undertaken by West Dene college 2003-4 - 4.1/8in. (10.5cm) wide
-
one of the earliest J. Bruguier boxes seen
-
with fusse movement with eight cam-stack for the birdsong in early 1-1-2-3-2-3-4 sequence, number only stamped beside main ratchet, near to repair's mark from 1971, the bird with multi-coloured layered plumage with the tones in red, purple, turquoise and dark brown, subtle iridescent highlights in green and orange specks, moving bone beak, head, wings and tailfeather to the sequential birdsong, rising through the finely pierced and tooled gilt grille, the lid interior with a fine enamel study of a flower spray against pastel turquiose ground, the lid top with a sailing boat and rowing boat on a lake with figures on the shore, woodland to banks and vast mountainous landscape beyond, petit black enamel fan crest to top, within diamond wreath border, the silver-gilt case of squat sarcophagus form, tooled detail of flowerhead spandrels to main lid top, twin oval frieze band to side and large geometric cartouche to underside within further tooled detail, with period ratchet key (spring soldered), and a document relating to minor restoration undertaken by West Dene college 2003-4 - 4.1/8in. (10.5cm) wide
Footnotes
One of the most original and best condition J. Bruguier boxes seen to date. This example further proves against a past theory that Bruguier started from number 100.
The gilt retention is remarkable and the tooled detail very sharp. No doubt this box has not seen much sunlight or handling over many years. The birdsong is very loud.