Russia, Saint Petersburg

circa 1900

"Paul Bühré" firm

Silver, brass, steel, painted feathers; engraving, guilloche, painted enamel, enamel over guilloche

4.2 x 10.2 х 6.3 cm, 489 gr

On the rim "Paul Bühré à St. Petersburg"; on the bottom "157 " and "614 "

Box in oval silver case with thin chased rims. Top and lateral sides are covered with transparent blue enamel with thin white flowers', leaves' and birds' patterns over guilloche. A hinged lid with  painted image of a young man and a woman sitting under a tree is on the top panel. The lid is mirror-polished inside. It is framed with a thin chased border. White enamel dial covered with glass is on the front panel. There are two hands, black Roman numerals and minutes graduation on the dial. A sliding lever for the movement activation is above the clock to the right. The bottom of the box is guilloched. A keyhole and a winding crown of the clock are on the bottom. The engraved inscription "Paul Buhre à St. Petersburg" is on the bottom rim. The stamped numbers are near the inscription. During the movement operation the oval lid opens automatically and a tiny bird in painted feathers appears. It spins, flaps its wings and tail, turns the head, opens and closes the beak; the sound movement imitates bird's chirping. On completion of the movement's work the bird hides under the golden engraved openwork lattice and the lid descends.