Switzerland, Geneve

1870 -1886

Brugier Jacques Alexandre

Gilded metal, brass, steel, painted feathers; gilding, parfling, chasing, polishing, engraving, painted enamel

3.4 х 9.6 х 6.4 cm, 341 g

On the movement: "Jacques Brugier - rue Bonivard 6, a Geneva", on the stamp imprint: 'J. ICSTRU 1832 OSLO"; on the key "10", on the sticker " 2 94239687"

Tortoiseshell snuffbox with a singing bird, inlayed with gilded metal in the form of stems with flowers and leaves and enamel pictures. An oval aperture, surrounded with gilded chased frame and bordered with mother-of-pearl knobs is in the center of the top panel. A hinged lid with enamel image a castle and trees on the lake side in a chased frame on its external surface and enamel bouquet of flowers on blue background in chased frame - its inner surface. A compartment for snuff tobacco with a closing down lid and yellow sticker with the inscription is on the rear panel. A keyhole for winding the movement and six fixing screws heads are on the bottom. A sliding lever for starting / stopping the bird's movement is on the front side to the right. When the movement is switched on the oval lid opens automatically and a tiny bird in painted feathers appears. It spins in place, flaps its wings, opens and closes the beak in time with the sounds; sound movement imitates bird's chirping. At the end of the movement operating the bird hides and the lid descends. The bird with a spring driven movement. The key grip is round, with number "10" and the bar with a square cross-section aperture. Snuffbox is stored in dark-green box with rim locks, the stamp imprint is on the inner box side.