Vintage silver-gilt, guilloche turquoise enamel and pictorial enamel timepiece alarm-actuated singing bird box, by C. A. Marguerat
An extremely fine vintage richly-hued silver-gilt, guilloche turquoise enamel and pictorial enamel timepiece alarm-actuated singing bird box, by C. A. Marguerat
Swiss
circa 1925
Serial number 428,
Awake from your dreams the Swiss way...
When 8-day clock movement wound and set to the correct time, the alarm train wound and desired actuation hour selected, separate singing bird movement wound from underside, the magic starts with the fast-paced gong running for approximately 5 seconds before the bird lid opens as the bird appears, singing magnificently and opening and closing metal beak, bobbing tailfeather, flapping both wings and turning whole body from side-to-side in perfect synchronicity, ending when the bird drops back down as the bird lid closes. Manual override achieved for singing bird feature by sliding front start/stop button to the right.
The 2-train multiple jewelled 8-day movement with soft gilt matt finished dial, raised polished Western Arabic numerals with chapter dots, lower 24-hour alarm subsidiary dial with polished current time hand and 8 Days legend as arc just above, dark blued pierced alarm and time hands, all behind domed glass front, surrounded by the luxurious turquoise enamel band which accompanies the complex engine-turned circular timepiece barrel with intertwining helix decoration. Mounted on twin deep fluted columns, each with chrysanthemum tooled capitol tops and slight plinths, taking the eye to the singing bird base which is fully enrobed in the guilloche turquoise enamel of the finest degree of tone, with full-frame radial pattern to top. The lid with a superbly hand painetd picture of a reclining lady.
The grille surround of chased silver and the lid interior highly polished silver-gilt for full bird reflection during performance. Edge running the round of the movement case with a slightly more generous margin to accommodate the delicate ball-cluster decoration. Corners with ribbon and angular stepped crowns engraved to the two planes of each.
The underside numbered 428, Swiss made, Depose, silver content mark 935 and shooting star mark. The back of the clock case also with marks, depose, silver content 935 and shooting star mark.
size - 5.3/4in. high, 2in. deep, 4.1/4in. wide - (14.5 x 5cm x 11cm)
Point of Interest -
The joy of seeing a singing bird box by C. A. Marguerat,is the overwhelming power of quality they possess.
This model is the very first commercially successful alarm-actuated singing bird box made. The timepiece is advanced, with the 24-hour alarm dial providing an obvious benefit on setting margins, and the ease of use of a complex device.
The turquoise enamel used is one of the finest hues fired on a box in Switzerland. Light in colour, this shows the viewer the engine chasing beneath without hindrance under any type of illumination levels. The silver-gilt tone works perfectly with yellow used for this piece - a soft mustard yellow, not garish, but kind to both the eye and taste.
The silverwork tooled with particular attention given to the edges and corners, seen here with little clusters of dot-trails to front edge and ribbon lipped corners.
This is a very special prize in the world of singing bird automata. Made with total dedication, at a time when the skills and determination to achieve the best was not only planned, but executed. And above all, it has survived.
| STOCK No | 1724 |
| AVAILABILITY | In stock |
| PRICE | £15,000.00 |
75 Portobello Road London W11 2QB 0207 221 1121 07967 385258
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