Important Watches, Collector's Wrist...

Hong Kong, Jun 08, 2001

LOT 462

Patek, Philippe & Cie., Genève, No. 28393, enamel attributed to Berguer & Fils, made in 1866, sold on September 3, 1872. Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives.Very fine and extremely rare, silver gilt, gold and enamel singing bird box fitted with a watch.

HKD 220,000 - 300,000

USD 30,000 - 40,000

Sold: HKD 437,000

C. Rectangular with lobed corners, the cover and side panels very finely engraved with floral and foliate pattern on a fine engine-turned background, the top and bottom with silver gilt molding with a repeated geometrical pattern, hinged front panel with aperture for the dial, left panel also hinged for key compartment, base engraved with fancy ?basket weaving? pattern and centered with a shield in a foliate crest and winding aperture for the singing bird movement. Gold bird's lid with finely panted enamel scene of Lake Geneva with sailboats and the Salève mountain. The watch behind a front hinged panel which discloses the 18K gold back cover with winding, setting and regulating apertures. D. White enamel, Roman numerals, outer minute ring. Blued steel "spade" hands. M. Rectangular, unusually large: 62 x 19.5 mm, frosted gilt metal, 19 jewels, going barrel, straight-line "moustache" lever escapement, cut bimetallic compensation balance, blued-steel flat balance spring. Singing bird movment. By Bruguier, rectangular, 85 x 44 mm, full plate, turned pillars, stamped 326 (Bruguier serial number), fusee and chain, rectangular bellows, bird with moving head, wings, beak and tail, eight cams controlling the piston and the bird movements, long duration of singing, precision cam-controlled lifting mechanism, gold grill pierced and engraved with floral pattern.Signed on the watch cover.Dim. 104 x 66 x 35 mm


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Grading System
Grade: AAA

Excellent
Case: 3 - 21
Movement: 3*

Good

Overhaul recommended, at buyer's expense
Dial: 3 - 01

Notes

There are only five known singing bird boxes by Patek Philippe. 28383 Sold by Antiquorum on October 1987, Lot No. 223 28393 The present box. 28398 In the Patek Philippe Museum not known In the Virginia Museum of Fine Art 805010 In the Patek Philippe MuseumThe company, for this box, chose the best singing bird movement available at the time and fitted it with unusual and exceptionally well executed watch, the box must have been destined for a very important client.Charles-Abraham Bruguier the younger (1818-1891)Came from a family of well-known singing bird makers, founded by Charles-Abraham Bruguier senior (1788-1862), Charles Abraham Bruguier the younger was born in London, where his father was working at the time. He is mentioned in the 1843 Geneva census as working in the Terreaux de Chantepoulet street, later moving to the rue Rousseau, to the rue Sismondi and then to the rue des Pâquis, 5. Bruguier the younger manufactured singing bird boxes largely along the lines of his father, as did his brothe-in-law, Jacques Bruguier, and the latter's son, Jacques-Alexander. Charles-Abraham Bruguier senior had redesigned singing bird movements in an ingenious manner, extending the length of the song, and at the same time slightly simplifying them and facilitating production.This piece is published in ?Flights of Fancy?, Christian and Sharon Bailly, 2001, p. 284.