Important Watches
Important Watches
Patek Philippe & Co., Genève
A rare silver and enamel singing bird box with watch, Movement No. 28391, Circa 1865
Session begins in
December 6, 07:00 PM GMT
Estimate
200,000 - 400,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: white, Roman numerals, blued steel Breguet hands
Caliber: rectangular gilt lever movement, bimetallic compensation, balance, gold rectangular cuvette
Movement number: 28'391
Case: silver, rectangular form, the exterior decorated with geometric designs highlighted by turquoise and black opaque enamel, front hinged panel fitted with the moment, singing bird concealed beneath an oval cover decorated with polychrome enamel of a Swiss lake scene, rising from a bird-form recess, the reserves pieced and engraved with scrolls
Size: 102 mm x 65 mm x 30 mm
Signed: case and movement
Accessories: associated male key
While we associate Patek Philippe with the highest caliber of watchmaking possible, it may surprise you to learn that between 1860-1870 the brand produced a small number of singing bird boxes. According to the Patek Philippe Museum, only twelve singing bird boxes were produced during that time making them as rare as they are beautiful.
Singing birds were something of a Geneva specialty, and the boxes and movements for these Patek Philippe boxes were produced by Charles Abraham Bruguier. Bruguier, also Geneva based, developed an impressive reputation for mechanical singing birds and music boxes, with records showing creations as far back as 1825. It should come as no surprise that his movements and boxes were sought out by Patek, and that Patek Philippe would modify them to suit their needs – in this case, by adding a manually wound watch to the front of it. In Volume I of the Patek Philippe Museum books, four examples of Patek Philippe’s bird boxes are illustrated, and while all display a high level of craftsmanship and finishing, our example here is quite unique.
While the illustrated examples in the book had gilt silver cases, box number 28’391 shows no signs of gilding. It also features a unique – almost Celtic – inlaid enamel motif which has not appeared on any other Patek bird box in the past. The oval lid of the mechanical bird is decorated with an enamel panel that features a stunning scene of Lake Geneva – which is typical for boxes of the era and a more common theme. On the righthand side of the box, activating the slide causes the panel to flip up, and the bird springs to life. As the bellows inside begin to activate and the chirping of the bird can be heard, its wings flap, tail moves, head turns – and yes even its beak opens and closes. These mechanical marvels are truly a sight to behold and a rare delight.
Opening the front panel displays the regulator for the watch movement, as well as a secondary winding mechanism for the watch itself. You can see the beautifully engraved signature in script ‘Patek Philippe & Co.’ along with the box serial number 28’391 – which is also engraved inside the box. With only twelve examples ever made, and several being present in the Patek Philippe Museum, it is a rare occasion for a Patek Philippe birdbox to become available.