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拍品专文
An example of the finest craftsmanship in enamel and one of the most fascinating and exceptional singing bird boxes made in the 20th century, it is breathtakingly beautiful and a unique work of art of the highest caliber. This superb box is undoubtedly the most important to be produced in modern times and a world-class object for the collector.
Tantalizingly, Vacheron Constantin’s archives are incomplete for this period and therefore no extract can be issued. However, it seems most likely that the present singing bird box was a very important commission from Vacheron Constantin to commemorate a special event in the lives of husband and wife, Leonhard Miescher (1884-1955) and Maria Riggenbach (1887-1951) whose names are engraved on the base of the box along with the place and date ‘Schauenburg 1943’. Their respective coats of arms are exquisitely enamelled on two shields placed on the inside of the hinged bird cover and revealed when the bird is singing.
The chief glory of this Singing bird box is of course the magnificent grand feu cloisonné enamel panels. The creator of these amazing works of art was the Geneva enamel artist Nelly Fournier, whose name is proudly and prominently engraved on the base of the box. It is quite probable that the Nelly Fournier who made the extraordinary cloisonné panels of the present box is one and the same artisan as the Nelly Richard, whose name has become famous as the artist who made some of the most important cloisonné enamel wristwatch dials of the 20th century, for Patek Philippe and Rolex among others. In official records, Nelly Richard’s full name is recorded as Mrs Nelly Richard-Fournier (1910-1998).
A triumph of craftsmanship and artistic flair, the cloisonné enamel panels are stylistically quite remarkable being designed in a strikingly modernist and free style. Each gold panel depicts a predominantly wooded landscape in tons of gold, brown and green forming a continuous and harmonious whole.
Vintage cloisonné work such as this exhibits a certain colour palette which is softer and more tonal than modern enamels. The beautiful effects were achieved because in the mid-20th century, materials such as lead, mercury and cyanide were still being used in the enamelling process. For obvious reasons they can no longer used and the result is that the new enamel techniques, although still of the very best craftsmanship and masterfully executed, have a bolder less spontaneous quality. Collectors today understand these subtle differences and early examples such as the present singing bird box are consequently very highly prized indeed.
The original fitted box, also signed Vacheron et Constantin, has been made with great attention to detail including the addition of a charming metal and enamel applique of a caged bird.
Tantalizingly, Vacheron Constantin’s archives are incomplete for this period and therefore no extract can be issued. However, it seems most likely that the present singing bird box was a very important commission from Vacheron Constantin to commemorate a special event in the lives of husband and wife, Leonhard Miescher (1884-1955) and Maria Riggenbach (1887-1951) whose names are engraved on the base of the box along with the place and date ‘Schauenburg 1943’. Their respective coats of arms are exquisitely enamelled on two shields placed on the inside of the hinged bird cover and revealed when the bird is singing.
The chief glory of this Singing bird box is of course the magnificent grand feu cloisonné enamel panels. The creator of these amazing works of art was the Geneva enamel artist Nelly Fournier, whose name is proudly and prominently engraved on the base of the box. It is quite probable that the Nelly Fournier who made the extraordinary cloisonné panels of the present box is one and the same artisan as the Nelly Richard, whose name has become famous as the artist who made some of the most important cloisonné enamel wristwatch dials of the 20th century, for Patek Philippe and Rolex among others. In official records, Nelly Richard’s full name is recorded as Mrs Nelly Richard-Fournier (1910-1998).
A triumph of craftsmanship and artistic flair, the cloisonné enamel panels are stylistically quite remarkable being designed in a strikingly modernist and free style. Each gold panel depicts a predominantly wooded landscape in tons of gold, brown and green forming a continuous and harmonious whole.
Vintage cloisonné work such as this exhibits a certain colour palette which is softer and more tonal than modern enamels. The beautiful effects were achieved because in the mid-20th century, materials such as lead, mercury and cyanide were still being used in the enamelling process. For obvious reasons they can no longer used and the result is that the new enamel techniques, although still of the very best craftsmanship and masterfully executed, have a bolder less spontaneous quality. Collectors today understand these subtle differences and early examples such as the present singing bird box are consequently very highly prized indeed.
The original fitted box, also signed Vacheron et Constantin, has been made with great attention to detail including the addition of a charming metal and enamel applique of a caged bird.