A very good silver and full-enamel body singing bird box, most probably by F. Cattelin,

Circa 1925

Going-barrel movement

Perfect shades of grey...

When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through pressed and pierced gilt grille, then proceeds to move bone beak, wings, tailfeather and body from side-to-side to continuous sychronised birdsong.

The bird with outstanding feathered plumage of light brown, interspersed with even flashes of green, yellow, green and orange iridescence, lid interior with double rosehead wreaths on dove grey ground, the bird lid top with triple rose cluster surmounted by further painted pink rose wreath on very fine chevron engine-turned ground under dove grey enamel, the main lid and all sides with white painted swag garlands with ribbon-tie terminals all on radial and sunburst zig-zag engine-turned ground , silver molded edge and base with silver marks to centre, raised on movement-positioned bun feet.

Point of interest -

F. Cattelin was one of several Swiss makers during the early 20th century. Never signing his work, we have to go on movement design and serial number make-up, but he was renowned for fine casework, usually in silver and enamel.

Take a good look at the engine turning under the coolness of the dove grey. So well is it executed, a simple revolve of the box between the hands under light creates a stunning shimmer effect due to the sharpness of the tools used to create all that work before the enamel was laid down. Not one chip or area of damage is noted.