Douglas Fisher - Fine vintage Viennese enamel and gilt metal singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum

Fine vintage Viennese enamel and gilt metal singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum

A fine vintage Viennese enamel and gilt metal singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum,

German

mid 20th century

The Viennese Virtuoso cometh...

When wound and the start/stop pull rod actuated, the bird lid springs open just as suddenly as the bird appears, opening and closing polished metal beak, flapping both wings, bobbing tailfeather and turning body from side-to-side, synchronised to the continuous beautifully toned birdsong, coming to an end when the bird magically disappears as the lid closes.

The bird of richly hued feathered plumage in gold, pastel yellow, turquoise, black and brown, rising up through pierced and tooled gilt grille, with the lid interior highly polished for full bird reflection, contained within the masterpiece gilt metal and enamel-panelled case of the highest Viennese quality.

The bird lid with a close study of a couple in love, both seated gazing into each others' eyes with picked flowers beside them within a wooded grotto, surmounted by the full-pictorial main lid of a prancing young man wearing blue cape, running along stream bank to his lady-love who presents a wild flower wreath, in pink bonnet and yellow dress, under a cloud-speckled sky. The front panel depicting two ladies being wooed by a gentleman admirer, with sheep beside a river at dusk, sides and back full-field panels with repeating theme of young lovers showing their affection, in a country setting at high light, all studies with rounded edges and corners, held in place by the typically fine micro-shaped and fretted frieze, plain matt polished gilt underside and turned gilt start/stop knob to right-hand side.

size - 4.1/2in. wide, 3in. deep, 2in. high - (11.5 x 7.5 x 5cm)

Point of Interest -

The strong appeal of Viennese enamels is simple - it is its unique style, artistic character and warm tone which is not seen anywhere else. It really shows up clearly the skill and accuracy the artist was able to present, with the eye constantly drawn towards all areas of the work, with the hallmark being that areas of view of perspective far away, are just as crystal clear and detailed as close-up foreground features.

The use also of ultra-fine ink nibs to capture shading and definition marks this enamel type as a bar far further higher than what else was available in and around Europe at the time.

One may see other examples of this fabulous work on the musical jewellery boxes in the form of miniature grand pianos - of which Douglas Fisher have examples in the Mechanical Music section.

The enamel to all areas of this box are offered in mint order.

A thoroughly divine singing bird box, fitted of course by one of the most reliable movements by one of the best makers.