A fine and rare diamond-set engraved and enameled gold singing bird snuff box with musical movement and watch. Sold $233,000. Photo: Bonhams.
NEW YORK, NY.- A fine and rare enameled gold snuff box once owned by Turkish Sultan Abdul Aziz (1830-1876) surpassed its pre-sale estimate to sell for $233,000 at Bonhams Fine Watches, Wristwatches & Clocks sale on December 12. Encrusted with diamonds and inscribed with the monogram of the Sultan's son, Prince Shehzade Mahmud Celaddin Efendi, the opulent box created by Jean-Georges Reymond in the early 19th century featured a musical movement in the shape of a bird attributed to les frères Rochat, and retailed by Piguet & Capt. The base of the lavish box contained a clock, encircled with pearls, and was likely a gift to the Sultan to celebrate his son's birth.
A fine and rare diamond-set engraved and enameled gold singing bird snuff box with musical movement and watch. Photo: Bonhams.
The box with the lozenge maker's mark of Jean-Georges Réymond, Geneva 1798 - 1815, and the mark of les frères Rochat, the movement stamped with serial number 7, circa 1804, and later embellished
Rectangular with rounded corners, guilloché panels on the base and sides with engraved and enameled borders, the top panel now set with four old mine cut diamonds and numerous round diamonds forming scrolls enclosing the oval lid now enhanced with calligraphic Arabic script monogram, all within a further row of round diamonds framing the panel, the front panel with split pearl bezel enclosing a white enamel watch dial with center seconds and opening to reveal arbors for winding, setting and regulation of the watch and for winding the music and bird, each labeled with a pictorial engraving designating the function, hinged key compartment to the side.
The gilt three part mechanism comprising: the automaton with chain fusee, cylindrical bellows and stack of eight cams controlling the motion and song of the brightly feathered bird who appears, sings and flaps his wings before retreating back into the box; the music with pinned barrel playing on stack of seven steel plates, each with three tuned teeth; and the watch movement with cylinder escapement and plain gilt balance, gold buttons on the front and back panels activate the singing bird and musical mechanisms; the box is accompanied by two gold engraved keys for operating and setting the complications. width 9.3cm, depth 6.2cm. Sold for US$ 233,000 (€169,134)
Provenance: The lid bears the monogram of the 19th century Ottoman Prince Shehzade Mahmud Celaleddin Efendi (1862 - 1888) son of the Turkish Sultan Abdul Aziz (1830 - 1876) who presumably had the box embellished for his son.
The diamonds were added during the mid 19th century, however the box and automaton date from the beginning of the century.
The lozenge maker's mark was used by Georges Rémond during the French occupation of Switzerland, 1798 - 1815.
Les frères Rochat, Ami-Napoléon and Louis, were initially apprenticed to their father, Pierre of Le Brassus. Subsequently they developed their skills in the workshop of the eminent maker of automata, Pierre Jaquet - Droz (1721 - 1790). Shortly after 1800, they established their own workshop in Geneva and were quickly recognized as the preeminent makers of singing bird automata. The Rochat box number "1" is dated 1804.
The mechanism bears the serial number "7". suggesting it was made shortly thereafter and thus one of their earliest productions.
Other examples of later Rochat boxes with the same complications display a different layout with a robust musical barrel and striking watch work housed separately, with the music in the main compartment and the watch under the front panel. In this earlier box, the music and watch mechanisms are housed together under the front panel, sharing a rectangular main plate.
Bonhams gratefully acknowledges the assistance of Brittany Nicole Cox who researched and conserved this singing bird.
Hundreds of bidders representing over 30 countries on five continents participated in the auction, with interest concentrated in the US and Asia. Live bidding via the internet and the telephone were both significant forces in the sale, although the majority of the timepieces went to attendees in the bustling Madison Avenue saleroom. The auction was 80% sold by both lot and value, with total sales in excess of $1.5 million.
Extraordinary clocks from all eras performed well in the auction. A German oak wall regulator clock from 1917 brought $37,500, while a large French gilt and patinated bronze figural clock from the late 19th century fetched $36,250. Bonhams is the only international auction house to maintain a dedicated Clocks department in New York, and will offer a fine selection of clocks in the Fine Furniture, Silver, Folk & Decorative Arts and Clocks sale on January 23, 2014.
A fine oak wall regulator with electric remontoire signed Clemens Riefler, Munchen, No. 406, dated 1917, pendulum no. 2047, Type A1. Photo: Bonhams.
The rectangular case with stained oak front framed with glazed door and sides, supported by a purpose made mahogany wall mounting panel securing the movement and case, signed silvered dial with minute ring enclosing subsidiary seconds and 0 - XII / 12 - 24 hour dial, cut-out for viewing the remontoire, blued steel hands, the substantial movement with screwed pillars mounted on bracket fitted with adjusting and leveling screws, Riefler's patent remontoir, escapement and Invar pendulum numbered 2047 hanging from a crutchless knife-edge suspension and swinging against a silvered calibrated beat scale. 59in (151cm) high. Sold for US$ 37,500 (€27,221)
Wristwatches on offer were also well received, particularly chronographs. Fine examples from Rolex proved popular, such as a 1966 14 karat gold chronograph that sold for $45,000. A 1940's Audemars Piguet 18 karat gold chronograph reached $38,750, while a presentation 18 karat gold chronograph retailed by Tiffany & Co., and dated 1894 sold for $28,750. The auction also saw a remarkable rare and stylish steel Vacheron Constantin "222" bracelet watch fetch $25,000, a record price for the model.
Rolex. A 14K gold chronograph wristwatch and bracelet with after market dial Cosmograph Ref:6241, Case No.2112933, circa 1966. Photo: Bonhams.
17-jewel Cal. 722-1 manual winding movement adjusted to three positions, shock resistant suspension to monometallic balance, chronograph activated by two round buttons on case band, replaced and spurious Newman-style dial with applied dot numerals enclosing subsidiary dials for continuous seconds, 30-minute and 12-hour registers, gold hands, tonneau case with tachymeter bezel, screw down back and crown, 14K gold tapered riveted Oyster bracelet, case, movement and bracelet signed; 37mm. Sold for US$ 45,000 (€32,665)
Audemars, Piguet . A rare and very fine 18K gold chronograph wristwatch. No.45598, 1940's. Photo: Bonhams.
23-jewel fully adjusted manual winding movement, bimetallic balance with overcoiled spring and index regulator, gold train, circular champagne dial with tachymeter scale enclosing applied gold faceted dot numerals and arabic noon, subsidiary 30-minute and 12-hour registers, continuous seconds, gold hands, blued sweep and register hands, brushed and polished snap back case with oval pushers, associated leather strap and 18K gold buckle, case, dial and movement signed; 33mm. Sold for US$ 38,750 (€28,128)
After the Second World War, Audemars Piguet made very few High Grade chronographs. Some of them were sold by famous houses such as Cartier and Bulgari. These chronographs fitted with a caliber 13"VZAH were of exceptional quality and are much praised by collectors.
Literature: Audemars Piguet by Gisbert L. Brunner, Christian Pfeiffer-Belli and Martin K. Wehrli
Patek Philippe. A very fine presentation18K gold hunter cased minute repeating split chronograph No.97010, Retailed by Tiffany & Co., dated 1894.
American watches in the December 12 sale were much admired, boding well for Bonhams June 12, 2014 single owner sale in New York: Masterpieces of American Watch Making, Rare Watches from a Private Collection. A fine and rare elaborately engraved 18K gold hunter cased watch made by Hamilton more than doubled its estimate to sell for $17,500, while a very rare silver open face watch made in the mid-19th century by Charles Fasoldt of Albany, NY, sold for a stunning $25,000 - more than eight times its pre-sale estimate.