A very fine silver-gilt and full pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Karl Griesbaum,

Circa 1925,

Model No. 7 pattern,

Going-barrel movement,

the picture-perfect Griesbaum box for exquisite enamel lovers...

When wound and start/stop pull to right-hand side actuated, the bird emerges through pierced and chased gilt grille, moving metal beak, wings, tailfeather and body side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong.

The bird with close-feathered plumage in deep emerald green and bib with gold iridescent highlights, matt polished gilt lid interior, in exquisite tooled silver-gilt ever sought after No. 7 pattern case, the bird lid with domed profile enamel of a proud cockerel announcing the dawn, main lid with cockerel and white peacock with chickens gathering within a classical folly in the grounds of a stately manorhouse with formal gardens, linear white enamel border, the front and rear with further fine cockerel studies within oval frame, maple-brown ground panels also to sides, fine double cobalt blue arched friezes, repeating wave-line detail to silver all bordered with white enamel frames, rounded corners in jet black enamel with diamond crest centres, underside with simplistic matt tooled ground and chased detail.

4.1/16in. wide, 2.1/2in. deep, 1.7/8in. high - (10.3 x 6.4 x 4.7cm)

Point of interest -

Very few singing bird box enamels capture a true perspective of space with so much detail included in such a small space.  Here, both the quality of painting and condition is outstanding.  Enamel chips so easily, but this amazing example of Griesbaum at their very best certainly shows the world what they were capable of.