A antique tortoiseshell singing bird box, by Bontems,

 

Circa 1890,

 

Going-barrel movement,

 

The bird with geometrically layered feathered plumage in clipper blue, mauve, red, dark brown and black, good iridescent highlights in gold, red and electric green, moving bone beak, wings and body to continuous birdsong, rising through finely pierced and tooled richly toned gilt grille with seamless bird centrum, matt finished lid interior, plain border, the bird lid with flowering trumpet urn with mirrored swags, in plain polished tortoiseshell case with good lid light anomalies throughout, hidden key compartment to rear and start/stop button front-right.

 

4in. wide, 2.5/8in. deep, 1.1/2in. high - (10.2 x 6.7 x 3.8cm)