Antique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems

A fine antique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems,
 
French
 
circa 1890
 
Retailed by the renowned firm Chevob & Co. - post Baker-Troll & Co., of Geneva
 
Serial number 611
 
Going-barrel movement,
 
Trails of flowers and delight...
 
When wound and the gilt metal start/stop button slid to the right, the bird lid opens and bird appears, moving bone beak, bobbing tailfeather, flapping both wings and turning body from side to side, perfectly synchronised to the bright and loud continuous birdsong, ending when bird disappears and lid closes.
 
Stamped to top movement plate with the serial number and B.B. in diamond for Blaise Bontems.
 
The bird with very fine chevron layered feathered plumage in a multitude of colours including brown, red, white, clipper blue, enhanced by strong iridescences in gold, green and red, rising up through the pierced and chased gilt grille with bird-form centrum, bird lid interior with full painted enamel study of roses, daisies and foxgloves' spray on Royal blue ground, bird lid top with a superb study of a lady and gentleman seated on the bank of a stream, in early 19th century dress, the lady with fishing rod looked over by the oboe-playing gentleman with a basket of flowers by his side, under willow trees with a tower from a fort looming in the distance, framed with exquisite tooled silver-gilt border stamped near hinge position.
 
In the extraordinary tortoiseshell case, with very complex inlays of polished pewter, gilt metal and burnished copper, to follow the trails and wisps of Convolvulus Arvensis with the horn shaped flowers in rose hue against the gold tone leaves and powder-white stems, forming the spandrels and central rondo around bird lid, plain polished tortoiseshell ground to all sides with hidden key compartment to rear, plain underside with movement and panel having blued screws.
 
In the post Baker-Troll retailer's travelling case in tan leather, lined interior with white silk and red velvet, plaque to front and Baker-Troll fretted key to central cover.  
 
size - 4in. wide, 2.5/8in. deep, 1.3/8in. high - (10 x 6.5 x 3.5cm)
 
Point of Interest -
 
Of the many skills of time gone by, looked upon with total respect with the knowledge that replication to the same standard is questionably possible in the present day, is that of seamless inlay work - both visually and texture-feel perfect. 
Tortoiseshell inlay work is very hard indeed to execute properly.  Unlike solid wood or veneers whereby any imperfection may be dealt with by glass-papering the ridges down before the final polish, tortoiseshell has to be polished and made final before the tiny cuts are made.  For the expert to complete the work, the metals used are heated, then placed carefully on the case before pressure is used to set each piece to the right depth.  Too hot, the tortoiseshell melts.  Too cool and the metal is proud of the case and almost impossible to extricate in order to correct the error.  
On this amazing example, there are over 300 individual elements which wound have been worked like this. 
 
Blaise Bontems does it again.
STOCK No1567
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Antique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems
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Antique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by BontemsAntique inlaid tortoiseshell and pictorial enamel singing bird box, by Bontems
 
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75 Portobello Road London W11 2QB 0207 221 1121 07967 385258
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