Silver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. Marguerat

A fabulous and very fine vintage silver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. Marguerat
 
Swiss
 
circa 1935,
 
The real Art Deco masterpiece
 
Retailed by the renowned Henry Spingarn of The Old Curiosity Shop, Paris, France.
 
Serial number 606
 
Going-barrel movement
 
 
When wound by the captive key wind and start/stop button slid smartly to the right, the bird lid opens and suddenly emerges the finely feathered plumage bird, moving metal beak, flapping wings, bobbing tailfeather and turning whole body from side-to-side, synchronised perfectly to the continuous birdsong.
The bird with intricately banded plumage in soft brown, red, turquoise and aubergine, with staggering highlights of emerald green and gold, rising through the magnificent pierced and foliate gilt grille, executed to the trademark Marguerat seamless design, bird lid interior with full field of deep cobalt blue, lid top in jet black enamel finished to a mill pond tone.
 
In silver gilt oval case with baullé border, main lid of single clipper blue guilloche enamel bearing multi zig-zag rays to the radial pattern, framed with tiny sliver of black to the edge with further polished silver gilt ring, start/stop slide to front-centre in relief and decorated with open scrolls, repeated blue guilloche enamel band to the zig-zag pattern running around the entire circumference, below which the beautifully proportioned rectangular bars of alternating jet black and clipper blue panels set the tone, with each of the blue panels having engine turned chevrons flanked by vertical ties, underside with full plate wave-line engine turned, radially encompassing the central cartouche bearing the silver content marks for 930, the serial number, the date letter and the retailers mark H S with the Star of David, folding captive winding thumb key, raise on round fluted bun feet.
 
size - 3.1/2in. wide, 2.3/4in. deep, 1.1/2in. high - (9 x 7 x 4cm)
        
Point of interest 
 
This singing bird box is one of the most refined pieces from the heart of the Art Deco movement. 
 
The 1930s brought the world to the Aquarius position of style and sophistication, with the use of materials worked by hands who knew what they were doing. 
This outstanding singing bird box features the best enamels, the best engine turning imaginable, coupled with the favourite singing bird song much admired by all. 
 
The quality seen and heard is also supported by the best provenance - the original retailer.  Originally sold within the four walls of the Old Curiosity Shop by the owner, Henry Springarn, this bears his mark of his initials, H. S., flanking the Star of David, next to the marks used in England when no doubt this was heading towards its first owner. 
 
Whilst Charles Dickens made the Old Curiosity Shop in London famous and can still be seen in real life today, there was one of the same name in Paris.  It must have seen a roaring trade when at its height in the 1920s with many objects of desire on show in the packed premises, all shown off by the extravagant and very clever antique dealer, Henry Spingarn. 
 
According to research undertaken on his business, many wealthy customers made the special trip to see his wares, including Americans, who until 1929 would have been no doubt very pleased to see pieces such as this singing bird box of such beauty.  
But following the crash and the subsequent occupation of France, the Spingarn family found themselves in a most vulnerable situation. Being Jewish, he left Paris with his family in a hurry in 1940, trying to hide by moving around the country and holing up in small villages.  He was sadly found on 31st March 1944 and was murdered the next day.  His Daughter, Odette survived and is the author of 'I jumped off the Train'.  
 
We have handled only one other singing bird box with Henry's stamp on it, on stock number 1476, which was not with us for very long.  We are very lucky people to see yet another thrilling object from the French Curiosity Shop - a shop which continues to tell a thought provoking story...
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Silver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. Marguerat
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Silver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. MargueratSilver-gilt and duet enamel oval singing bird box, by C. H. Marguerat
 
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