Lapis-lazuli enamelled and gilt musical timepiece alarm-actuated singing bird box, by Reuge
A fine contempary lapis-lazuli enamelled and gilt musical timepiece alarm-actuated singing bird box, by Reuge
Swiss
late 20th century
Singing bird with full notational phase song
Model No. 6885
Serial No. 1334
The dawn chorus awaits, as you like...
When singing bird movement wound, the timepiece wound, the alarm time set and alarm bar primed, at the chosen moment a small passage of music is played from the sub-miniature cylinder movement, followed immediately by the bird lid opening and the bird majestically rising up through the gilt grille with seamless centrum, moving beak, flapping both wings, bobbing tailfeather and turning whole body from side-to-side, perfectly synchronised to the extremely fine and multi-octave six-part notional phased song, coming to a close when the bird disappears as the lid closes. Manual start/stop button for solo singing bird to right-hand side.
The bird with bright and dappled multi-coloured feathered plumage in striped layers of brown, green, red, yellow, blue and gold, ribbed iridescent highlights in red, green and deep gold, polished metal beak, all reflected in the interior of the highly engine polished gilt lid, grille of geometric scroll forms, petit-baullé border and bird lid top with large finely painted floral spray, signed bottom-left H. Seiltert, in the gilt metal framed case with full lapis-lazuli enamelled panels to all sides of the most deep blue, with gold-fleck features running consistently throughout the whole .
Timepiece to front-centre with white enamel dial signed Reuge Swiss Made, Roman numerals, vacant chapter ring, blued hands and gilt alarm hand, set and wound with twin extending crowns emerging from underside, joined by steel alarm primer lever and captive thumb grip winder for bird movement, on four dished feet, in fitted Reuge case silk lined and finished in scarlet red leather, instruction sheet.
Size -
4.3/4in. wide, 2.1/4in. high, 3in. deep - (12 x 5.5 x 7.5cm)
Point of Interest -
Lapis Lazuli is a very attractive material. Seen here as an enamel to all sides, the features, colours and other distractions upon the dark blue make to the eye a 'Milky Way' appearance.
Smartly proportioned and of the quality you would expect from one of the most respected singing bird manufacturers ever, the alarm feature here is precise, and with the Swiss design and reliability completing its ethic, you may be assured that once again, the Charles Reuge Company have produced another model of the finest degree.
The sub-miniature cylinder movement is wound by the priming, or cocking, of the alarm lever. This provides a reserve power ready to be fed to the movement. The cylinder itself is less than half an inch in length with a single-section comb of 12 teeth. A superb volume is achieved by its location within the case, which acts as a soundboard.
The colour of the blue and gold hue together is visually balanced perfectly. The colour surprise when the bird is up and singing makes for a full colour-spectrum fantasy.
This model was also available in tortoiseshell enamel.
| STOCK No | 1572 |
| AVAILABILITY | Sold |
| PRICE | Sold |
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