FRÈRES ROCHAT AND JOLY, CHENEVARD & JOYET. AN EXTREMELY
FINE AND RARE 18K GOLD, ENAMEL AND PEARL-SET MUSICAL
SINGING BIRD BOX, MADE FOR THE CHINESE MARKET
THE MOVEMENT STAMPED FR FOR FRéRES ROCHAT AND NUMBERED 212,
THE CASE STAMPED ICI FOR JOLY & CHENEVARD, CIRCA 1820
Gilt-fnished movements incorporating two different mechanisms,
including chain fusée and bellows for the singing bird automaton,
musical pin barrel with 23 vibrating steel plates, entirely engineturned
geometrical and foral decorated rectangular-shaped box with
rounded corners, royal blue champlevé enamel and chased scroll
and foliage decorated top, bottom, sides, corners and borders, the
hinged oval lid with a fnely painted polychrome enamel romantic
scene, surrounded by a split pearl-set border, opening to reveal the
singing bird and a gold engraved grill, activated on request the bird
will rotate on its axis, fap its wings and tail and turn its head, in time
to a realistically imitated bird song, the bird also set with realistic
multi-coloured feathers, when the song has fnished the bird will
automatically retreat inside the box and the lid will close, hinged back
panel revealing a compartement for the key, levers to front and side
panels to activate the singing bird and musical mechanisms, movement
plate stamped FR for FrAres Rochat and numbered 212, case stamped ICI for
Joly, Chenevard & Joyet
83 mm. x 51.5 mm. x 21 mm.