A SWISS ENAMEL AND GOLD SINGING BIRD BOX

PROBABLY BY CHARLES-ABRAHAM OR JACQUES BRUGUIER, GENEVA, CIRCA 1860

Details

Rectangular, chased on cover and base with symmetrical panels of ivy tendrils on engine turned ground, the sides with foliate sprays emerging from scrolls, all within geometric and foliate borders, the cover centred by a hinged enamelled oval medallion depicting a view of the Mont-Blanc, opening to reveal a singing bird with painted multi-coloured feathers, his head turning, his wings flapping while swiveling on an axel emerging from a grille pierced with scrolling foliate, sliding lever on front panel, keyhole on underside, with original key set with pearls, in later fitted case with stand lined with Chinese silk
3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) long
Provenance

Sir John (1906-1982) and Lady Clare Keswick (1905-1998) then by descent to,
Margaret Keswick (1941-1995).
Lot Essay

The first automatons appeared in Geneva in the late 18th century and some were fitted with repeating or musical mechanisms and were highly appreciated works of art, not only in Europe, but also by Chinese and Ottoman dignitaries.
This singing bird box is most probably the work of the Bruguier workshop who created a particular style of box and movement hugely recognisable.
The Bruguier were a family of well-known singing bird makers, according to Sharon Bailly, Oiseaux de bonheur, Geneva, 2001, founded by Charles-Abraham Bruguier senior (1788-1862). Charles Bruguier senior was the son of a clockmaker and became himself a clockmaker. In 1815, he moved to London, where his son, also named Charles Abraham, was born in 1818. However after 1823, the family returned to Geneva where Bruguier first began making singing birds improving the movements so that the length of the song was extended whilst at the same time slightly simplifying them to facilitate production. His son Charles-Abraham (1818-1891) worked with him until 1843 when he moved to the Terreaux de Chantepoulet, then rue Rousseau, rue Sismondi and finally rue des Pâquis, 5.
Jacques Bruguier (1801-1873) was not the son but the son-in-law of the celebrated Charles Abraham Bruguier Senior, despite having the same surname which prompted Sharon Bailly to suggest that they were probably related. Jacques was born in Geneva in June 1801, son of Jean-Abraham Bruguier and his wife Rose Lamon. He trained in Geneva although the family had moved to the Ardèche region of France and by 1852, he was working with Charles-Abraham Bruguier as a maker of singing bird movements; His wife Jacqueline was a pinner of music box cylinders.