A very early Rochat singing bird box with fusee automaton movement. This box, by Freres Rochat, fusee movement stamped with the three tulips symbol and the number 9 in the centre of the cluster, stamped to the top plate, which is the usual place. The tortoiseshell case with hinged snuff ( or key) compartment to the rear of the box. The gold lid is finely hand painted in enamel with an excellent floral painting. The bezel surrounding the grille through which the bird pops up and down is also of gold. The key wound chain driven fusee movement working the bellows & driving multiple cams that on sliding the operating lever to the front, the lid opens and the bird pops up, sings its head off and 1/ turns its head from left to right, 2/ flaps the wings, 3/opens and shuts his beak and finally 4/ pirouettes left and right. On completion of his 18 second performance he drops through the superbly pierced silver gilt grille and the lid closes after him. All fusee movements allow the bird a longer performance than the later spring barrel movements but more importantly one extra manipulation, the movement of the head from left to right.  This is a single digit serial number singing bird box by the Swiss master Rochat. Double digit or even triple digit examples very rarely turning up as it is. This stunning box has been well looked after and played very little over the years.

Swiss 1820