製造商: Breguet 年份: 1936 錶殼號碼: 3718 材料: Gilt metal 尺寸: 101mm x 67mm x 60mm 簽名: Case signed and numbered Breguet 3718 文學: For a history bird boxes and other examples see Flights of Fancy - Mechanical Singing Birds, Sharon & Christian Bailly
圖錄文章
These Breguet bird boxes are extremely rare with fewer than 30 known and they were most likely produced only by special order. The boxes appeared in two series, with the first from the 1930s until the 1940s and the second from the mid-1950s to the 1960s. The bird boxes were available in two sizes, a large version like the present example featuring the bird and secret compartment, and a smaller size. The movement is signed AB France for Bontems, the legendary maker known for their technical skills and authenticity of the bird song.
In lovely original condition, this very rare bird box is a wonderful expression of the technical skills of the House of Breguet. According to the archival information from Breguet, the Singing Bird "BREGUET N° 3718" was made by Bontems for Breguet in June 1936. The piece was sold on April 23, 1937 to Mr ERSTEIN for the sum of 2,300 French Francs.
Established in 1775 by Abraham Louis Breguet, widely considered the greatest watchmaker of all time, the storied brand continues to thrive in the modern era, creating exceptional high-end watches as the Swatch Group's premier prestige brand. Some of the most important and lasting inventions in watchmaking are attributed to Abraham Louis Breguet, including the tourbillon, shock resistance and the use of hammers and gongs employed in nearly all minute repeating watches made since.
Eighteenth and nineteenth century Breguet pocketwatches are especially sought-after by collectors, and many of them were made for the elite of European society, including Napoléon and Marie Antoinette. Key wristwatches from the twentieth century include oversized dress watches, two-register chronographs, triple calendars and Type XX aviator's chronographs made for the French military and civilians.