Pierre Rochat was born in the year 1780, he lived with his two sons Ami
Napoléon Rochat and Louis Rochat, at a place called “Chez Meillau” au
Brassus, Valley of the Lake of Joux, Switzerland. He devoted himself
with his sons to the manufacture of Geneva music boxes and other small
pieces of the same kind,—most of them hidden in various small objects,
such as snuff boxes, bonbon boxes etc.
After having lost his fortune in building speculations, the Rochat
family came to Geneva in 1815 and prospered again by making most curious
marvels of small mechanics, which were highly appreciated by the
connoisseurs and sold to the principal courts of Europe.—