Singing bird box with key
Singing bird box with key
Great Britain, London
Circa 1879
John Manger & Co (mechanism), silversmith Cheshire C. (case)
Steel, brass, feathers, cardboard, leather, fabric, enamel, silver; stamping, gilding, engraving, mechanical work, painted (pictorial) enamel
Case: 5.6 x 13.6 x 9.4 cm, box: 3.8 x 9.8 x 6.45 cm, 471 g
Manufacturer’s mark with letters “CC” in rectangular punch with clipped corners, sovereign’s head duty mark, lion passant hallmark, Birmingham date letter for 1879 “e” in circle, anchor town mark presumably under frame; on backplate of mechanism: “John Manger & Co London”. Yellow sticker with numbers “7”, “94267755” on custom insert; number “3” on key.
Gilded silver case is rectangular in shape with semi-columns on rounded vertical edges, decorated with relief ornament of foliated scrolls. Circular golden inserts with serrated edges are positioned in center of front and back panels.The set includes a winding key and a case featuring a button closure, finished in brown and black leather, with a golden frame on the lid, a blue velvet custom insert, and blue silk on the inner side of the lid.
1309.1-3/ДПИ