Geneva silver and enamel singing bird box with integrated watch, attributed to Raymy
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1910
This exceptional Swiss singing bird box, dating to circa 1910, features an integrated watch mechanism and a finely crafted automaton. Housed in a silver rectangular case with canted corners and elaborate guilloché engine-turning, the box reflects the style of earlier Bruguier designs.
When the slider is activated, a finely painted enamel lid opens to reveal a mechanical songbird with red, blue, and emerald green plumage that rises, flutters, turns, and sings. The bird emerges from a gilded lattice floor. The underside of the lid features an exquisite miniature enamel painting of Château de Chillon on Lake Geneva, with mountains and a sailing boat in the backdrop. A watch is set into the front side, featuring a silvered dial, Arabic numerals, and blued spade-shaped hands.
The reverse displays an engraved medallion depicting musical instruments. The object measures 102 x 65 x 38 mm and weighs 513 grams. The internal mechanism includes a bridge-movement watch with lever escapement and a full-plate automaton with bellows and a going barrel. It is attributed to the Geneva maker Raymy.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Weight
- 513 g
- Material
- silver, enamel
- Dimensions
- 102 x 65 x 38 mm
Technical characteristics
- Watch movement
- bridge movement, lever escapement, screw compensation balance
- Automaton mechanism
- rectangular, full-plate, bellows, going barrel
Design
- Dial
- silvered with Arabic numerals
- Ornamentation
- guilloché engine-turned pattern
- Enamel painting
- Château de Chillon, Lake Geneva
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
- Maker named in listing
- Raymy
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.