A very fine and exquisite miniature silver gilt, enamel, mother-of-pearl and turquoise mounted singing bird-in-cage, by Karl Griesbaum,

first quarter 20th century,

The detail maestro has arrived...

When wound and the start/stop pull flowerhead actuated, the perched bird comes to life by moving its polished metal beak, flapping wings its wings, bobs his tailfeather and moves his body in a full 180 degree arc to his continuous synchronised birdsong.

The bird atop tree stump perch has multi-coloured feathered plumage in tones of blood red, yellow, Royal blue and dark brown accentuated with delicate iridescent green highlights to neck and bib.

The whole cage in extremely well detailed and richly coloured cast silver gilt, with the tree stump having branch trails, rope lash from the crown to the rocky surmount with reed bushes and grasses.

All this under the square domed part filigree canted-corner profile cage, with hoop and boss top, paired leaf cobalt blue cap with swag trail relief. The cage body of multiple rope-twist appliqué roundels, hearts and spars, small flowerhead centres below suspended single mother-of-pearl mounts, arch side centres with triple turquoise mounts below double Rococo scroll friezes, alternating ripple and baulle bars flanked by large fluted tapering columns each with Ionic capitals topped with urn and covers with hoop handles, base with swan neck scroll anchors above fret frieze with geometric panels and finely tooled intermediate plates, sides with eight beautiful deep cobolt blue enamel panels each with swag trail and fleur de lys pairs, on stylised lion paw feet, underside with large eight petal flowerhead on wide chevron ground, tooled with the greatest of detail, four further flowerhead holding screws, winding spindle, start/stop flowerhead pull from canted corner seem to side.

9.1/2in. high, 4in. square - (24 x 10.2cm)

Point of interest -

Fineness and detail captured in miniature is a difficult feat.  Here, the tiny leaves and reeds which complete the naturalistic scene set within the bird chamber were each made, gilded and placed individually.  Every loop, bar twist mount and frieze cast individually and the finished object is at a quality level where the more you examine it, the more likely you see something new every time. 

Please look closely at the tooling to the relief gilding seen against the blue enamel panels - such perfection. 

A true miniature delight to admire visually just as much as one would enjoy audibly.