Switzerland, Geneve

1818-1820s

Freres Rochat

Silver, enamel, steel, brass, painted feathers; painted enamel, champlevé enamel, engraving, chiselling, guilloche, gilding

3 х 8.8 х 6 cm, 390 gr

On the movement - mark in the form of three tulips, "258"; on the key "9"

Snuffbox with a singing bird in gilded silver case decorated with chased and engraved ornament and enamel images, with refined blue enamel floral ornament, completed by volumetric onlays with flowers and leaves over repoussed background. An oval aperture with a chased frame is in the center. A hinged lid covers it. The lid external side is decorated with painted enamel landscape with mountains, lake, trees and a road in the foreground. A bouquet of flowers on white enamel background is depicted on the lid inner side. The lateral sides of the case are decorated with blue enamel ornament and elements of various shapes over guilloched background. A cartouche with engraved and chased blue enamel foliate and floral ornament over guilloche and a keyhole for winding the spring are on the bottom side. A compartment for snuff tobacco with the lid opening up and a latch are on the rear side. A sliding lever for switching the bird on is on the front panel, to the right. The oval lid opens automatically during the movement operation 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 and the lid descends. The bird has a spring drive movement with a fusee - system of the movement stabilization. The box is stored in a leather brown case in the form of a sarcophagus with a golden frame on the lid and a button. The key grip is in the form of an oval and a ring that are joined by hexagonal plate with figure "9" and a bar with a square cross-section aperture.