Items with musical mechanism and automaton

Singing bird box

    Singing bird box

    Germany

    Circa 1920

    Silver, brass, steel, feathers, wood; casting, woodwork, polishing

    11.7 x 9 x 4.7 cm, 452 gr

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    Singing bird box in rectangular wooden case, covered with dark varnish. The front side is concaved inward. Cast silver onlays with inverted images of a burning torch and a quiver with arrows enlaced with ribbons against the background of laurel branches are on the lateral panels. Cast silver ornamental onlay with images of flowers, leaves, ribbons and mascaron with wings is on the top side. An oval window with a hinged silver cast lid with images of music trophy and flowers is in the onlay center. The lid automatically opens when the movement is activated. A miniature bird in painted feathers from beneath. It turns on the spot, flaps its wings, opens and locks the beak. The sound movement imitates the bird’s chirping.

    Whem the program finishes, the bird is hidden under ornately-shaped openwork gilded lattice and the lid is lowered. The activating switch of the singing bird movement is on the rear side. Four cloth round pads in the corners and a keyhole are on the bottom side.

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    Инв. 2727/ДПИ