Antique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier

A very fine and early antique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier,
 
Swiss, circa 1840,
Fusee movement,
 
Serial number 5 - One, if not the earliest, Jacques Bruguier singing bird boxes in existence.
 
Greek key splendour, Bruguier perfection...
 
When wound and the start/stop slide actuated, the bird lid rises and in doing so, the perfectly presented feathered bird magically appears in view, moving beak, both wings flapping, tailfeather bobbing, head turning and whole body turning from side to side, synchronised magnificently to the long briefly paused sequential birdsong to the very early arrangement of 1-1-2-2-3-4 produced by the eight cam-stack, lasting approximately 29 seconds.
 
Serial number inscribed to lid and case interior, signed by J. Bruguier's hand with workshop address on spring loafer. 
 
The bird with layered and fanned feathered plumage in three separate tones of green, a touch of brown and turquoise with iridescent highlights in red and further green, rising through superb chased and tooled pierced gilt grille with bird-form centrum, against extremely fine painted enamel study of wild flowers, berries and leaves on white ground to bird lid interior, shimmer-polished lid border, and main lid border raised with repeating arcs with chased centres.
Lid top with painted enamel pictorial study of a large traditional log cabin chalet with figure emerging outside, a fast torrent stream with boulders running beside, fir trees on raised bank in the shadow of the enormous fully ice-capped mountain and blue sky above.
  
The case of the finest degree, with main lid fully chased and tooled, geometric enamel fields radiating from the centre, with stylised bluebell heads and shield crests in turquoise, black and midnight blue, all surrounded by the finest of tooling and chasing, slight mitre-point corners with rounded terminals, front, sides and back with stunning Greek key frieze and the tooled shading to key areas creating the most monumental three-dimensional effect, triple oval banners to corners and the underside with shaped oval cartouche bridged by floral crests on interlocking wave-line ground, hidden key compartment to rear, with period key.
  
size - 3.5/8in. high, 2.1/4in. deep, 1.7/16in. high
 
 
Point of Interest:
 
This is serial number 5 from Jacques Bruguier. 
 
We offered and sold a few months ago, a J. Bruguier singing bird box which was serial number 26.  That was more than early enough, before this beauty was located.  Interestingly, that example featured a Greek key design to the corners of the main lid and was, too, embellished in turquoise enamel. 
 
This box needs to be seen, handled, touched and listened to.  You will be astounded by the sound and the quality of decoration seen. 

 

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Antique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier
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Antique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques BruguierAntique tooled silver-gilt, enamel and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Jacques Bruguier
 
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75 Portobello Road London W11 2QB 0207 221 1121 07967 385258
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