A very exclusive contempary sterling silver, gold and emerald stud singing bird box, by Reuge,

late 20th century

Going-barrel movement

First edition of their bird box series, serial number 52

Sheer elegance, precision and beauty...

When wound and the start/stop button pushed gently, the lid opens with magnificent slow-sweep motion to reveal the perfectly proportioned bird magically rising through the seamless pierced gold grille, with opening and closing polished metal beak, flapping wings, bobbing tailfeather and moving whole body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong, finishing with the bird disappearing below grille and the slow-sweep lid completing the performance. 

The bird with almost full-spectrum colour feathered plumage in light blue, midnight blue, speckled red, salmon pink and brown, highlighted with superb banding of iridescent flashes to wings, tailfeather and bib in tones of green, red and yellow, seen in reflection in full in the polished gold lid interior, seamless grille of stylised quatrefoils and butterfly-form detail, pressed silver repeating baullé frieze, in the outstanding highly-polished sterling silver case with plain slight-domed bird lid of complimenting finish, matching sides and rear, main lid panel with the very exclusive single gold flowerhead and leaf spray spandrel with fretted and chased detail, pansy flowerhead with stunning circular emerald mount to centre, leaf trail spill to side, stamped with the maker Reuge Music flanking lyre crest front centre, underside with full sterling marks, serial and the early typeface-sized maker stamp beside captive folding gilt metal winding key, still retaining protection wrap panel for winding key, presented in perfect condition within original white leather lined travelling case finished in midnight-blue leather.

size - 4.1/2in. wide, 2.3/4in. deep, 1.3/4in. high - (11.5 x 7 x 4.4cm)

Point of interest -

Reuge Music of Switzerland are always to be commended for their attention to design and finishing skill. 

Keeping production numbers of singing bird boxes to an exclusive number, box numbers from their early bird box series are superbly made and always in strong demand.  Offered here in almost un-operated condition, viewers and interested parties will be delighted with the quality seen and heard.

The birdsong is long-lasting, playing the phases of the birdsong with purpose and sustaining important notes to afford the listener further enjoyment.  

Look carefully at the leaf spandrel and the way in which the craftsmanship has led the leaf to spill over to the side of the top of the case.  A very refined landmark of quality. 

The Reuge Music stamp to underside bears the wider gaps between each letter of the typeface, making this the early series from their prestigious compact catalogue.

This early serial numbered piece is a real show-stopper of singing bird box technology.