A rare antique silver and Tortoiseshell sarcophagus-form singing bird box, by E. Flajoulot
Retailed by Juvenia
French
circa 1895
Going-barrel movement
Serial number 1254
Boulle wonder...
When wound and the silver gilt start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird appears through smartly pressed and pierced silver gilt grille, moving polished metal beak, wings, bobbing tailfeather and turning body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong.
The bird with delicate chevron-banded feathered plumage in dark orange and brown tones, accentuated by flashes of blue and iridescent green highlights, lid interior with a finely executed painted study of a spray of flowers against a powder blue background, bird lid top with a young couple courting in a meadow.
size -
4in. wide, 2.5/8in. deep, 1.1/2in. high - (10 x 6.5 x 4cm)