Bellot à Genève

Bellot à Genève, made by Charles Abraham Bruguier, circa 1825. Extremely fine and rare gilt bronze singing bird cage. Octagonal form with eight corinthian columns supporting the arched dome, the cage work of pierced and chased floral and foliate design, partly three colour giIt with opening doors to the front, the body with applied musical trophies and silver gilt floral bouquets, acanthus moldings, cast lion paws feet and bail finial with rope twist suspension ring. Large multi coloured feather bird with moving wings, tail, turning head and swiveling body. Brass plates, turned pillars, fusee with chain, circular bellows, eight lifting cams, the bird operating mechanism on the top plate. Signed case, stamped for Bruguier on movement. In excellent condition. Dim.25 x 11 x 11 cm. Notes Charles-Abraham Bruguier, was born in Geneva in 1788. He spent the first years of his career working for other manufacturers making automats, before returning to Geneva and establishing his own business. His workshops continued under the guidance of his two sons, followed by his grandson. Bruguier understood better than his predecessors (Jaquet-Droz, Leschot and Les Frères Rochat) the secrets of successfully re-creating "bird-song", and he achieved considerable improvements in the design of the movements. His early works, of which this cage is an example, are considered as the finest "singing" mechanisms ever made in a small size. Bird cages of this period are very rare, with only six k