Frères Rochat
No. 145, An Exceptional and Possibly Unique Gold, Enamel, and Pearl-Set Book-Form Singing Bird Box made for the Chinese Market, circa 1800-1810, Box with Maker’s Mark Jean George Rémond & Co./Rémond Lamy Mercier & Co., the Enamel Scene Attributed to Jean-Louis Richter
Auction Closed
June 17, 06:12 PM GMT
Estimate
150,000 - 300,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Rectangular book form case, with hinged panel overlaid with translucent blue enamel against engine-turning, framed by a further hinged octagonal form panel concealing the singing bird, when actioned the panel opens and the brightly feathered bird rises, swivels its body, flaps its wings and opens and closes its beak, the mechanism stamped Freres Rochat, no. 145, the octagonal panel, enameled en plein with an alpine scene, the foreground inhabited by Chalets and travelers, the enamel painting attributed to Jean Louis Richter, the book’s spine composed of three sections, each framed by split pearls, the top and bottom sections with garlands of flowers, centered by a section with a floral and fruit bouquet, the upper section fitted with an oval operating slide which operates the bird, the fore-edge enameled to simulate mottled marble, top and bottom page edges engine-turned.
The hinged base painted with an elaborate still life of fruits and flowers including grapes, plums, a cut melon, and nuts, the whole bordered by, split pearls, the box marked twice inside the base compartment with the maker's marks of IGR & C for Jean George Rémond & Co./Rémond Lamy Mercier & Co., accompanied by a fitted leather box and winding key
Width 8.9cm., 4 inches
Private Collection
A La Vieille Russie, New York, Mechanical Wonders, The Sandoz Collection, October 26- November 26th, 2011.
Exhibition catalogue, Mechanical Wonders The Sandoz Collection, New York, 2011, cat.no. 26, p 70.
The present lot belongs to a select group of gold and enamel book-form boxes with automata. Three book-form automaton boxes are known; however, the present lot is the only one with a singing bird incorporated in a case shaped as a book. The two other pieces are both with temple automatons and likely made as a pair. For the latter two examples, see Sotheby’s, London Collection of a Connoisseur July 14th, 2020, lot 27 and Bernard Pin, The Maurice Sandoz Collection, Collection de Montres et Automates, Maurice, Musee de Horlogerie, le Locle pp.84-93
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 they specialized in 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.
The painted scene on the cover is likely by Geneva enamellist Jean-Louis Richter. (1766-1841) Richter specialized in landscape subjects ranging from specific topographical views to more romantic imaginary views of Alpine peaks or Bosporus shipping. It is said that he invented the technique of painting against an opalescent ground, the engine-turning below giving his skies a sunset glow.
The enamel still life on the base is similar to the enamel scene on the base of the both Temple automatons mentioned above, one by Sené Neisser, Geneva, 1807-1808 sold Sotheby’s, London 14th July 2020, Collection of a Connoisseur, lot 27. For the second The second box, see Bernard Pin, the Maurice Sandoz Collection, Collection de Montres et Automates, Musee de Horlogerie, le Locle pp.84-93
Jean-Georges Rémond was a gold box maker in Geneva, of great importance, see ed. Haydn Williams, Enamels of the World - the Khalili Collection, London, 2009, pp. 292-317.