BRUGUIER

• bird movement with stacked cams, fusee and chain • the brightly feathered bird with swiveling body, flapping wings, moving head, and beak, the bird rising from a bird-shaped reserve further surrounded by pierced and engraved scrolls, the bird concealed beneath an oval panel painted with a polychrome enamel scene depicting Lake Léman with a view of Geneva and Mont Blanc in the background, the scene signed (T?)eller, the top chased with gold foliate scrolls and partly enameled with translucent midnight blue enamel over engine-turning, the sides and base engine-turned with a herringbone motif • movement hand-scratched with the signature Bruguier Jacques Cendrier à Genève 14 

The bird is very strong and in good operational order. However, will need to be oiled and cleaned. The feathering is original. The oval panel has a well executed scene in good condition. The blue enamel is in good condition with one minor area of loss to the edge of the enamel on the left side. The piece is accompanied by an associated winding key. Overall a fine and collectible box.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

Accompanied by a fitted red leather box signed William Boore 54, Strand, London.

Charles-Abraham, son of établisseur Jacques-François Bruguier, was born in Geneva in 1788. According to Sharon Bailly, there is a strong probability of some connection between the Bruguiers and the Rochat family of singing bird masters, although so far there is no incontrovertible proof. In any case, Charles-Abraham trained as a clockmaker, moving to London in 1815 where his son Abraham-Charles, known as Charles, was born on November 25th, 1818 and christened with his younger sister Louise Pernette at St Anne's Soho on November 26th, 1822.

The following year the family returned to Geneva and it is at this point that Charles-Abraham apparently began to make singing bird boxes, taking time between 1833 and 1837 to work at the Paur musical box factory near Montbéliard. Charles Bruguier fils is first recorded as a mécanicien separately from his father in 1843. Both produced singing bird boxes with excellent mechanisms contained within gold, silver or silver-gilt cases, distinctively enameled with romantic lake views or flowers. Charles Bruguier fils and Jacques Bruguier eventually took over and continued the family business.

The hand-scratched signature is probably that of Jacques Bruguier, the son-in-law of Charles-Abraham Bruguier, Senior. Jacques Bruguier married Jacqueline Françoise Bruguier in Geneva in 1853. The signature on this box gives the address of Cendrier 14, the couple's address from 1867 until Jacques' death in 1873.

See Bailly, S. & C., Oiseaux de Bonheur, Geneva, 2001, pp. 262-294, for a biography of the Bruguier family and illustrations of their work.