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拍品专文
With fitted presentation box and male key.
The present box and its spectacular combination of a lavishly decorated case and highly complex movement featuring a singing bird is the perfect example for a decorative object possibly made for a Chinese dignitary. The outstanding quality is typical for such items made in Geneva during the 19th century, much coveted by collectors in Europe and Overseas, most particularly in the Far East.
Since its purchase at Christie's Geneva's European Silver and Objects of Vertu auction of 11 November 1986, the singing bird box offered here for sale has remained in the same private collection. It is distinguished by the outstanding quality of its case, the enamel miniature and the singing bird movement, underlined by the excellent overall condition. Most obvious is the extreme crispness of the magnificent gold case, evidently safely locked away and hardly been used.
The movement plate is bearing the hallmark of the celebrated Frères Rochat, acknowledged masters in the manufacture of these complex mechanisms. The sumptuous case was made by Joly & Chenevard, renowned "monteurs de boîtes en or" or makers of gold cases and jewellers. Their workshop specialized in the production of singing bird boxes, snuff boxes with watches, musical and automaton watches.
The enamel scene on the present bird box is in the style of Jean-François-Victor Dupont, recognised by his neo-classical style with a slight romantic touch. Jean-François-Victor Dupont (1785-1863), a renowned enamel painter working in Geneva, was famous for his portraits of eminent personalities (King George IV, Henry VI among others), as well as boxes and watches for the Chinese market. He cooperated frequently with the Rochat Frères, Ilbery and Piguet & Meylan. His work can be found in the world's most renowned museums, notably Geneva's Patek Philippe Museum.
The enamel scene depicts a story from the Book of the Apocrypha, set in Babylon and involving two elders appointed as judges who become enamoured of the beautiful and pious Susanna, wife of the wealthy Joakim. After watching her bathe in the privacy of her garden they accost her, but she rejects their advances. Her refusal condemned her to death by stoning. However, she was saved by divine intervention, and the judges were put to death instead. Susanna's story was used throughout medieval Europe to teach that salvation comes to those who put their trust in God.
The narrative and its erotic element has also been a favourite of painters (Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt) and a host of writers and composers.
The illustrious art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the 19th century was directly connected to the work of the regions' most celebrated watchmakers, jewellers and goldsmiths. It was used as the ultimate form of decoration for watches, snuffboxes and other objects of vertu. Invented in Geneva around 1760, the technique of enamel under flux consisted of covering the painting by a layer of transparent enamel. This vitrified surface created a shining effect, enhancing the colours' radiance and liveliness. Painting on enamel became one of the greatest arts of the period, the best works often destined for the export to the Orient or to be exhibited at Fairs. Artists excelling in this metier were most notably Jean-François-Victor Dupont, Jean-Abraham Lissignol, Isaac Adam and Jean-Louis Richter.
The present box and its spectacular combination of a lavishly decorated case and highly complex movement featuring a singing bird is the perfect example for a decorative object possibly made for a Chinese dignitary. The outstanding quality is typical for such items made in Geneva during the 19th century, much coveted by collectors in Europe and Overseas, most particularly in the Far East.
Since its purchase at Christie's Geneva's European Silver and Objects of Vertu auction of 11 November 1986, the singing bird box offered here for sale has remained in the same private collection. It is distinguished by the outstanding quality of its case, the enamel miniature and the singing bird movement, underlined by the excellent overall condition. Most obvious is the extreme crispness of the magnificent gold case, evidently safely locked away and hardly been used.
The movement plate is bearing the hallmark of the celebrated Frères Rochat, acknowledged masters in the manufacture of these complex mechanisms. The sumptuous case was made by Joly & Chenevard, renowned "monteurs de boîtes en or" or makers of gold cases and jewellers. Their workshop specialized in the production of singing bird boxes, snuff boxes with watches, musical and automaton watches.
The enamel scene on the present bird box is in the style of Jean-François-Victor Dupont, recognised by his neo-classical style with a slight romantic touch. Jean-François-Victor Dupont (1785-1863), a renowned enamel painter working in Geneva, was famous for his portraits of eminent personalities (King George IV, Henry VI among others), as well as boxes and watches for the Chinese market. He cooperated frequently with the Rochat Frères, Ilbery and Piguet & Meylan. His work can be found in the world's most renowned museums, notably Geneva's Patek Philippe Museum.
The enamel scene depicts a story from the Book of the Apocrypha, set in Babylon and involving two elders appointed as judges who become enamoured of the beautiful and pious Susanna, wife of the wealthy Joakim. After watching her bathe in the privacy of her garden they accost her, but she rejects their advances. Her refusal condemned her to death by stoning. However, she was saved by divine intervention, and the judges were put to death instead. Susanna's story was used throughout medieval Europe to teach that salvation comes to those who put their trust in God.
The narrative and its erotic element has also been a favourite of painters (Tintoretto, Rubens, Rembrandt) and a host of writers and composers.
The illustrious art of enamel miniatures originating from Geneva in the 19th century was directly connected to the work of the regions' most celebrated watchmakers, jewellers and goldsmiths. It was used as the ultimate form of decoration for watches, snuffboxes and other objects of vertu. Invented in Geneva around 1760, the technique of enamel under flux consisted of covering the painting by a layer of transparent enamel. This vitrified surface created a shining effect, enhancing the colours' radiance and liveliness. Painting on enamel became one of the greatest arts of the period, the best works often destined for the export to the Orient or to be exhibited at Fairs. Artists excelling in this metier were most notably Jean-François-Victor Dupont, Jean-Abraham Lissignol, Isaac Adam and Jean-Louis Richter.