Important Watches and Wristwatches
Hong Kong, Hotel Furama, May 28, 1989
LOT 255
Jaquet-Droz London, Swiss, circa 1780. Ch'ien Lung.
HKD 400,000 - 500,000
CHF 80,000 - 100,000
Sold: HKD 333,500
Highly important 18-carat gold and enamel oval pearl set singing bird box for the Chinese market. Three body case, probably by Jean-George Remond, decorated overall with blue translucent enamel over engine turning, additional 'champlevé' and 'paillonné' decoration, two split pearl rows on the cover. Finely enamel painted Romantic scene on the bird's lid ( slightly restored). The lid opens by means of a bolt, disclosing the bird which rise, sings, flutters the wings and the tail, turn the head and open the beak. Once the tune is finished, the bird folds back automatically into the box and the lid close. Gilt brass oval movement, 'fusée' and chain, the bird's movements are driven by 8 cams which also control the song modulation by means of a piston on the cylindrical bellow. In very good condition. 90x60x40mm.
