Bronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum

A polished cast bronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum

 
Circa 1930,
 
model number 24,
 
Going-barrel movement,
 
A colourful enamel duet...
 
When wound and bird-form start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through pierced gilt grille and proceeds to move metal beak, wings, tailfeather and body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong.
The bird in resolute pastel colours of dark brown, red and amber, striped iridescent highlights in green and gold, highly polished lid interior for full bird reflection, in imposing case of cast bronze, relief level to cloisonne-style enamel in blue showing griffins, flowers, dragons and central angel, the lid top with matching ribbon and incised edges to sides with gentle frieze of Adamisque swags, above triptych panels finished with white enamel framing, bird-form start/stop button to front-right, underside with herring bone wave-line ground, on squat bracket feet.
 
4in. wide, 2.5/8in. deep, 2in. high - (10.2 x 6.2 x 5.1cm)
 
Point of interest -
 
Design ideas by Griesbaum never cease to amaze audiences to this day.  By using, to full advantage, just two colours, the effect of supporting all the relief brasswork is outstanding.  When being made, the enamel paste would have to have been lower in level than the finished set peak we see now, so quite a good few attempts would have to have been made to perfect the highlighting of creatures picked out in the brass to the main lid.  The design is so busy, one may be forgiven for not noticing these forms.  You are forgiven, as the intention is to make one stare in detail at the detail

 

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Bronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum
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Bronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl GriesbaumBronze and duet enamel singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum
 
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75 Portobello Road London W11 2QB 0207 221 1121 07967 385258
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