A superb antique gilt metal and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems

 

Circa 1880,

 

Going-barrel movement,

 

Serial number 637, stamped with the diamond C. Bontems mark to movement and case rear,

 

Bontems' tribute to his idol, Bruguier...

 

When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird rises through intertwining leaf and a ribbon rosette detailed tooled and pierced gilt grille, moving bone beak, wings, tailfeather and body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong.

The bird with layered multi-coloured feathered plumage with iridescent green and orange highlights, the lid interior with painted enamel floral crescent on turquoise ground, the lid top with finely detailed study of a lakeside merchant's chateau with boats at sail on the water, port behind and rocky mountain range beyond, in tooled gilt case with shaped corners similar to the Bruguier standard, geometric framed decoration of flowers and leaf swags to all sides and top, hidden key compartment at rear.

 

Points of interest - 

 

There is no mistaking the resemblance of this model to the glorious fusees from Bruguier.  Bruguier came up with a case design which just worked brilliantly, with much detail observed for decoration ideas and enamel areas.  Here, Bontems was simply continuing with the chassis ideal of a super case which fitted the visual bill, but by all difinition, due to the proportions, would always be associated with Bontems, not Bruguier.  An excellent compromise.