A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box, Swiss, circa 1825, image 1

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box, Swiss, circa 1825, image 2

Lot 17

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box,
Swiss, circa 1825,

Instruments of Science, Technology and Mechanical Music

18 May 2016, 13:00 BST

London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £37,500 inc. premium

Own a similar item?

Submit your item online for a free auction estimate.

How to sell

Looking for a similar item?

Our Scientific Instruments specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.

Find your local specialist

Ask about this lot

Claire Tole-Moir

Head of Department

Tel: +44 20 7393 3984

[email protected]

Jon Baddeley

Specialist Consultant Collectors, Science & Marine

Tel: +44 20 7393 3872

[email protected]

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box, Swiss, circa 1825,

the movement probably by Frerés Rochat, the case in the manner of Charles Bruguier, the fusee movement with eight cams, rectangular bellows, the bird with banded feathered plumage in purple, red and turquoise and iridescent green and gold highlights, moving head, bone beak, wings and tail feather to continuous birdsong, rising through engraved gilt grille, bird-form underplate with good detail, the case with high-content gold colour,

Additional information

This auction is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future auctions, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this auction, please contact customer services.
Buyers' Obligations
ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.
If you have any questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest client services team.
Buyers' Premium and Charges
For all Sales categories, buyer's premium excluding Cars, Motorbikes, Wine, Whisky and Coin & Medal sales, will be as follows:
Buyer's Premium Rates
28% on the first £40,000 of the hammer price;
27% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £40,000 up to and including £800,000;
21% of the hammer price of amounts in excess of £800,000 up to and including £4,500,000;
and 14.5% of the hammer price of any amounts in excess of £4,500,000.
A 3rd party bidding platform fee of 4% of the Hammer Price for Buyers using the following bidding platforms will be added to the invoices of successful Buyers for auctions starting on or after 6th July 2024 – Invaluable; Live Auctioneers; The Saleroom; Lot-tissimo.
VAT at the current rate of 20% will be added to the Buyer's Premium and charges excluding Artists Resale Right.
Payment Notices
For payment information please refer to the sale catalog.
Shipping Notices
For information and estimates on domestic and international shipping as well as export licenses please contact Bonhams Shipping Department.
- Scientific Instruments

Bid now on these items

Coming soon

A rare Q1 Lite desktop Micro Computer,
circa 1980,

£6,000 - £10,000

Coming soon

An Edmund Culpeper brass universal equinoctial dial,
English, early 18th century,

£2,000 - £3,000

Coming soon

A rare Marcus Purman gilt and silvered brass tablet sundial/compendium,
German, dated 1593,

£10,000 - £15,000

Coming soon

A Nicholas Lane 2 3/4-inch pocket globe,
English, published 1818,

£2,500 - £3,500

Coming soon

A pair of positive-negative brittle starfish and trilobite fossil plates

(2)

£2,000 - £3,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Large collection of metal mountings and horse brasses. Some framed. According to information Hooper & Co. (Coachbuilders) 19th-20th century. Variating sizes L. 3-19 cm. (49)

DKK2,000 - DKK3,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

“Thor Øl”. Enamel commercial sign. Glud & Marstrands Fabriker, 1950s. 71 × 51 cm.

DKK6,000 - DKK8,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

An Italian 19th century giltwood lectern. with adjustable framing, raised on four low fluted feet. 40 x 30 cm

DKK5,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A 19th century reddish marble plinth. H. 10 cm W. 28 cm D. 20 cm.

DKK6,000 - DKK8,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A pair of presumably Dutch/Frisian 18th century Baroque brass candlesticks, baluster stems on round and vaulted bases. H. 23 cm. (2)

DKK4,000 - DKK6,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Seven English 18th century 'Ale' glasses, narrow and conical cups, white enamel spiral-fluted stems on round bases. H. 19 cm. (7)

DKK3,000 - DKK4,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A 17th century Norwegian iron stove plate, cast with a double portrait of Frederik IVth and Queen Louise and inscribed VIVANT FRIDERICH & LOVISA anno 1698. 71 x 63 cm.

DKK3,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

“Drueta Druedrikken”. Commercial enamel sign. Manufactored by A/S Glud & Marstrand Fabr. 1930s. 39×90 cm.

DKK3,000 - DKK4,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A 19th/20th century Filipino carved and painted wood relief, composite face and hands, depicting St. Nino de Cebu. H. 75 cm

DKK3,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

'Carlsberg Pilsner' Danish enamel commercial sign. Carl Lunds Fabriker, Copenhagen, ca. 1915. 48x33 cm.

DKK4,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A collection of 19th-20th century mostly gilt metal furniture fittings. Comprising about 120 pieces.

DKK3,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

A selectiom of glass paper weights. Some signed. The four made and marked by Bülow Glas, Bornholm. 20th century. H. 3.5-12.5 cm. (19)

DKK2,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Trolls. Two carved and painted wooden figurines. Norway. 1950ies. H. 18 cm. (2)

DKK4,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Four Danish tin coffee canisters: Aarhus Kaffekompagni, L.H. Mortensen & Co Kaffe, Vejle and two from Salomons Kaffe, Jydsk Kaffekompagni, Randers. Early 20th century. H. 33-40 cm. (4)

DKK2,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Three 20th century garden vases of respectively cast iron and patinated metal. H. 27-40 cm. (3)

DKK6,000

Lot offered by Bruun Rasmussen, part of the Bonhams network

Original Superman 'Flying Costume' from the 1978 film 'Superman: The Movie', worn by American actor Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) in the flying scenes of the motion picture. Consisting of red wool cape with sewn-on logo, blue nylon top with sewn-on logo, blue nylon pants, yellow plastic belt and red leather boots. Also included is documentation regarding ownership history, unopened copy of the film (DVD), CD-ROM with catalogue material from Christie's, New York, July 2001, where the costume was last sold, and a color photograph of Christopher Reeve in one of the film's flying scenes. Zip waistband with the costume workshop's handwritten name, 'Nathans-Bermans CR [Christopher Reeve] Fly' ('Bermans & Nathans Ltd', London). The inside of the boots are labelled in pen, 'CR R 4' and 'CR L 4' for Christopher Reeve respectively. Both boot shafts also have remnants of sewn-on fabric labels on the inside. (14 items in total).

DKK800,000 - DKK1,000,000

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box, Swiss, circa 1825,

Own a similar item?

Looking for a similar item?

Ask about this lot

Claire Tole-Moir

Jon Baddeley

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box, Swiss, circa 1825,

Additional information

Auction information

Related Departments

Conditions of Sale

Bid now on these items

A rare Q1 Lite desktop Micro Computer, circa 1980,

An Edmund Culpeper brass universal equinoctial dial, English, early 18th century,

A rare Marcus Purman gilt and silvered brass tablet sundial/compendium, German, dated 1593,

A Nicholas Lane 2 3/4-inch pocket globe, English, published 1818,

A pair of positive-negative brittle starfish and trilobite fossil plates (2)

Large collection of metal mountings and horse brasses. Some framed. According to information Hooper & Co. (Coachbuilders) 19th-20th century. Variating sizes L. 3-19 cm. (49)

“Thor Øl”. Enamel commercial sign. Glud & Marstrands Fabriker, 1950s. 71 × 51 cm.

An Italian 19th century giltwood lectern. with adjustable framing, raised on four low fluted feet. 40 x 30 cm

A 19th century reddish marble plinth. H. 10 cm W. 28 cm D. 20 cm.

A pair of presumably Dutch/Frisian 18th century Baroque brass candlesticks, baluster stems on round and vaulted bases. H. 23 cm. (2)

Seven English 18th century 'Ale' glasses, narrow and conical cups, white enamel spiral-fluted stems on round bases. H. 19 cm. (7)

“Tuborg - Grøn Rød”. Enamel commercial sign. 1933. 39.5 x 39.5

“Tuborg øl - Mineralvand” Danish commercial sign. C. 1930 70x51 cm.

Antinous. Plaster head after antiquity. H. 30/49 cm.

A 17th century Norwegian iron stove plate, cast with a double portrait of Frederik IVth and Queen Louise and inscribed VIVANT FRIDERICH & LOVISA anno 1698. 71 x 63 cm.

“Drueta Druedrikken”. Commercial enamel sign. Manufactored by A/S Glud & Marstrand Fabr. 1930s. 39×90 cm.

A 19th/20th century Filipino carved and painted wood relief, composite face and hands, depicting St. Nino de Cebu. H. 75 cm

'Carlsberg Pilsner' Danish enamel commercial sign. Carl Lunds Fabriker, Copenhagen, ca. 1915. 48x33 cm.

A collection of 19th-20th century mostly gilt metal furniture fittings. Comprising about 120 pieces.

A selectiom of glass paper weights. Some signed. The four made and marked by Bülow Glas, Bornholm. 20th century. H. 3.5-12.5 cm. (19)

Trolls. Two carved and painted wooden figurines. Norway. 1950ies. H. 18 cm. (2)

Four Danish tin coffee canisters: Aarhus Kaffekompagni, L.H. Mortensen & Co Kaffe, Vejle and two from Salomons Kaffe, Jydsk Kaffekompagni, Randers. Early 20th century. H. 33-40 cm. (4)

Three 20th century garden vases of respectively cast iron and patinated metal. H. 27-40 cm. (3)

A rare gold, enamel and diamond encrusted singing bird box,
Swiss, circa 1825,

A rare Q1 Lite desktop Micro Computer,
circa 1980,

An Edmund Culpeper brass universal equinoctial dial,
English, early 18th century,

A rare Marcus Purman gilt and silvered brass tablet sundial/compendium,
German, dated 1593,

A Nicholas Lane 2 3/4-inch pocket globe,
English, published 1818,

A pair of positive-negative brittle starfish and trilobite fossil plates

(2)