A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875

A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems,
 
circa 1875
 
Going-barrel movement
 
The hills are alive with the sound of birdsong...
 
When wound and the finely engraved domed start/stop button slid to the right, the bird suddenly emerges from beneath the pierced and chased gilt grille, moving metal beak, bobbing tailfeather, wings and body from side-to-side.
The bird with softly banded feathered plumage in brown, two-tone blue and mustard yellow, beautifully interlaced iridescent highlights in a wide range of pastel shades including green and red, grille with double laurel leaf engraved border, bird lid interior with full frame painted enamel study of a circular spray of flowers against electric blue ground, the lid top with delicate and atmospheric painted enamel view of a lakeside settlement with tunnel, viaduct crossing to the church, tree-lined hills to either side of the huge snow-capped mountain to the centre, in plain highly polished tortoiseshell case with hidden key compartment to rear.
 
size
 
Point of interest -
 
Tortoiseshell singing bird boxes are unique to each other.  That is why at Douglas Fisher, we have a large selection with some bearing enamel lids, others with engraved lids, some with picture views to the top, to a few with an engraved start/stop button.  Not one tortoiseshell box is exactly the same as another and so if looking for a nice example of a piece which provides a visual delight as well as an audible surprise, look no further.
STOCK No1426
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A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875
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A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875A fine tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems, circa 1875
 
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75 Portobello Road London W11 2QB 0207 221 1121 07967 385258
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