A superb antique and finely painted sarcophagus-form wooden singing bird box, by Alfred Bontems
French
Circa 1895
Going-barrel movement
A stunning painting on each panel...
When wound and the start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird emerges through smartly pressed and pierced silver grille, moving metal beak, wings, and body from side-to-side to continuous synchronised birdsong of great melodic qualities.
The bird with grouped tonal feathered plumage in shades of light brown, turquoise, red and dark blue, lid top with two love birds, the main lid top and sides all with original and hand painted swags of flowers. The top of movement with stamp A.B. France, for Alfred Bontems.
10cm x 6cm x 3.2cm high
Point of interest -
Alfred Bontems was a cousin of the more famous Blaise Bontems, and sourced movements from the Bontems firm