Vertumnus and PomonaFrères Rochat

Vertumnus and PomonaFrères Rochat, box maker: G. R. in a lozenge, Georges Reymond, Geneva, circa 1815.Magnificent and rare, 18 ct. gold and enamel, pearl-set, musical singing bird box, with centre-seconds, and quarter repeating watch, made for the Chinese market. In original fitted box. Four-body, rectangular with rounded corners, all the panels entirely decorated with translucent Imperial blue enamel over engine-turning, borders with white and black champlevé enamel geometrical decoration. The top panel with the oval medallion are within a half pearl-set frame. The oval painted scene on the bird cover is after an engraving by Cornelis Vermeulen (1644-1708/09) after Antoine Coypel (1661-1722), and is of the Roman god and goddess Vertumnus and Pomona, protectors of gardens, ochards and ripening fruit. Vertumnus is in a rustic disguise as he unsuccessfully attempts to woo Pomona. He later tried to imitate an old woman and plead his own cause, but succeeded only when he revealed himself in his true form, that of the resplendent, youthful god.The bird cover is opened, the bird raised and set in motion, and the song started with a slide in the edge of the case. The articulated bird rotates, turns its head, opens its beak, flaps its wings and moves its tail.The top of the box, decorated in opaque black enamel and translucent Imperial blue enamel over guilloché and engraved flowerheads and leaves, lifts open separately from the bird cover, and access is gained to the winding square