Antoine Rojard was probably the son of the horologist Jean-Daniel Rojard, and worked in Geneva at the end of the 18th and early 19th century. He is known to have produced complex automatons and watches, including some set with thermometers. The Rojard firm continued until the end of the 19th century and was known for producing repeating watches in the English style. Reference: Christie’s. Legend has it that he made a ring watch for Napoleon Bonaparte. Many of his watches contained miniature automatons.
Antoine Rojard Maker’s Mark
A SWISS JEWELLED ENAMELLED MUSICAL GOLD SNUFF-BOX WITH AUTOMATON, THE MUSIC LESSON
THE BOX BY GUIDON, GIDE & BLONDET FILS (FL. 1801-1804), MARKED, GENEVA, CIRCA 1804, THE MOVEMENT WITH SCRATCHED SIGNATURE ‘ANT. ROJARD À GENÈVE, INVINIT ET FECIT, NO 2170’, FOR ANTOINE ROJARD, GENEVA
rectangular box with canted corners, the cover, sides and base set with panels of dark-blue translucent enamel on an engine-turned ground, the cover centred with a square enamel plaque depicting the Muse of Music with two cherubs in attendance
Sold for HKD 2,250,000 at Christie’s in 2018
