Objects with musical mechanism and automaton

Singing bird snuffbox

    Singing bird snuffbox

    Switzerland, Geneve

    circa 1850

    Bruguier, Charles-Abraham (The Senior)

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

    4.1 x 9.55 x 4 cm, 433 g; 591 g - with key and case

    Inside the compartment "1887". On the label: "B.A. Bremond Geneva musical boxes Switzerland"

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    Snuffbox with a singing bird in golden case with rounded vertical ribs, decorated with chiselled ornaments and enamel images. There are four enamel images of flowers on light blue background that are surrounded by chiselled ornament with dark blue enamel on the top panel. An oval aperture with chiselled frame is in the centre. The hinged lid with a picturesque enamel image of mountain landscape with a castle on the lake shore on the external side and an enamel image of flower bouquet on blue background in a chiselled frame on the inner side is inside. The guilloché surfaces with floral ornaments are on the lateral and bottom sides of the case. A keyhole for the movement winding is on the bottom panel. Flower ornament is on the ribs. The mirror polished compartment for snuff tobacco with the hinged lid and the engraving "1887" is on the rear side. A sliding lever for switching on the bird's movement is on the front side. When the movement is switched on, the oval lid opens automatically, a tiny bird appears on the open-work lattice. The bird with painted feathers turns on place, flaps its wings, opens and closes the beak; sound movement imitates the bird's chirping. At the end of the movement's work the bird hides and the lid closes. The movement with a spring drive, it has a fusee - system of stabilization. The winding key is curly with square cross-section rod.

    The snuffbox is stored in leather case of dark red color with yellow frame on the lid and the pasted blue label with a lyre and the inscription on the bottom.

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    Инв.3407/ДПИ