A silver-gilt and enamel timepiece with alarm and bird automaton, C.A. Marguerat, Geneva, circa 1925

enamelled in translucent blue over a sunray and wavy engine-turned ground, drum-shaped timepiece with 2 inch gilt dial and subsidiary alarm dial, 8 day movement, supported between two square pilasters above a rectangular automaton box, the oval cover enamelled with romanticised view of l'Ile Rousseau, opening to reveal a singing bird, the movement signed: Marguerat, the case stamped with serial number 595, SWISS MADE and post-1934 Spanish silver control marks, with key and case

mouvement currently functionning but not guarenteed by Sothebys, enamel has been oversprayed and thus restoration cannot be detected.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Charles-Armand Marguerat (1887-1931) was born at Lutry near Lausanne but set up business in Geneva around 1914.  From 1915-19 he styled himself as ‘fabricant de montres’ (watchmaker), working from 9 rue de Savoie. From about 1920 until his death in 1931 he moved to Avenue de la Gare des Eux Vives 18, where he advertised the ‘Manufacture d'Oiseaux Chantant’. He  is noted for rectangular boxes with a small round timepiece mounted on two pillars above the box, such as the present example. The clock mechanism can be set to trigger the bird box in the same way as an alarm, or the box may be played independently. A similar example featuring pink guilloché enamel is illustrated in Sharon and Christian Bailly, Flights of Fancy: Mechanical Singing Birds, 2001, p. 368; another blue enamel example was sold, Sotheby's New York, 10 December 2013, lot 31. Other Marguerat singing bird boxes are often oval in shape, but use a conventional movement trimmed off at the corners. In general, Marguerat mechanisms were well made and the enamelled cases are of particularly good quality for the time.