Objects with musical mechanism and automaton

Grand piano-shaped singing bird box

    Grand piano-shaped singing bird box

    Germany, Hanau

    1st half of the 20th century

    J. Kurz & Co.

    Silver, brass, steel, feathers, ivory, ebony; casting, stamping, polishing

    8.2 х 16.4 х 10 см, 902 g

    On the rear side surface: German silver marks: half moon, a crown, “925”; maker's mark “J K” with a swan between the letters

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    Singing bird box in a silver piano-shaped case on three curly legs, with two hinged lids, an oval lid and a bracket with two pedals. An ornament is on the polished surface of the lids and side panels. A keyboard with imitation of ivory and ebony keys is under the front lid. A compartment with polished inner surface for small things is under the second lid. A relief image of musical instruments is on the oval lid. A movement activation rod is on the lateral surface, hallmarks are on the rear panel. When the movement is switched on, the oval lid on the top panel opens, a miniature bird in bright feathers appears. It swirls in place, flaps its wings, opens and closes the beak. The sound movement imitates bird’s chirping. At the end of the program, the bird descends into the groove in the openwork lattice and the lid is closed. An aperture for the bird's movement winding and two screw heads are on the bottom panel. Two winding keys with grips in the form of a bird and rods with square cross section channels; one is from chrome, the other – from silver.

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    Инв.5056/ДПИ