A good cast and polished brass singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum
Circa 1930,
model number 21,
Going-barrel movement,
The Griesbaum console...
When wound and the start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through tooled cast gilt grille and proceeds to move metal beak, wings and body from side-to-side to quick sequential synchronised birdsong.
The bird with contrasting black feathered plumage against the bright iridescent electric green and red layered highlights, polished lid interior, in large and imposing cast brass case to the console design, with domed bird lid and top with matrix of circular bosses with double ribbon-bow unions, repeated to all sides, deep plinth base with integral drawer with repeated frieze to front, hoop handle, removing for winding spindle access, finished with plain polished frames with square detail.
4.1/8in. wide, 2.3/4in. deep, 2.7/8in. high - (10.5 x 7 x 7.4cm)
Point of interest -
Griesbaum and Bontems were material experimentors and with this, a metal which was easily castable yet prestigous enough to be recognised as being a product from one of these renouned firms, was a means to succeed in the market place of the early 1930s.
A superb example of how materials should be worked well in order to submit the right product.