Image: Singing bird box by Frères Rochat, circa 1810

Description: The empress josephine singing bird box by Les Frères Rochat, No. 116. Made circa 1810. A magnificent and exceptionally rare, gold and mother-of-pearl table jewel box, with singing bird and musical movements. Accompanied by a fitted plush-lined, tooled and gilt fitted case. Rectangular jewel box with a gold framework (master mark JI) chased with leaf decoration, enclosing mother of pearl panels at the sides and base, the center containing the movements with concealed winding hole for the bird in the base and for the music at the front with a gold shutter, at each side a silk-lined compartment with hinged mother of pearl cover, six gold bun feet (one lacking), surmounted by a very fine octagonal filigree gold birdcage with foliate and pinecone finials, opening door to the front, mirrored base, two feeding bowls, one glazed and containing seed. The singing bird movement: 76 x 40 x 33 mm., gilt brass, in two tiers, massive cylindrical pillars, fusee and chain, circular bellows, eight cams and a piston with sliding whistle for the song's modulation, the multicoloured feathered bird on a ring perch decorated with gold foliage, the bird with flapping wings, wagging tail, opening beak and rotating on its axis, long duration of singing, rack for rotating the bird on its axis, large fly governor. Musical Movement: 80 x 50 x 15 mm., bedplate with pinned brass cylinder, steel comb, going barrel and fly-controlled wheel train, playing two tunes released and changed by levers in the back of the case, metal protecting box housing the movement. Signatures: Bird movement: punched FR twice - within an oval, No.116. Punched French hallmarks. Maker’s mark: JI. Dim. 21 x 11 x 17.78 cm. The cage and mounts are made from gold and the musical and singing bird mechanisms hidden within the base. This object is also a jewellery box. By repute, this box was once owned by the Empress Josephine of France.
Title: Singing bird box by Frères Rochat, circa 1810
Credit: http://catalog.antiquorum.com/catalog.html?action=load&lotid=458&auctionid=241
Author: http://www.antiquorum.com/home/ Antiquorum
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