A superb antique silver and finely painted sarcophagus-form wooden singing bird box, by E. Flajoulet,
French
Retailed by Juvenia
circa 1895
Going-barrel movement
A stunning painting on each panel...
When wound and the start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through smartly pressed and pierced silver grille, moving metal beak, wings, and body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong of great melodic qualities.
The bird with grouped tonal feathered plumage in shades of light brown, turquoise, red and dark blue, lid interior with painted spray of Roses to dark turquoise ground, lid top with a scene of a lady holding an arrow tip dressed with ribbon and a boy with hoop and stick toy in a country clearing, the main lid top and sides all with original and perfectly toned painted finish with scenes of country-life of the late 18th century period the front panel features a man fishing.
10cm x 6cm x 3.2cm high