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Antique Tortoiseshell singing bird box, by Bontems

About the Item

A antique tortoiseshell singing bird box, by Bontems Circa 1890, Going-barrel movement, Motor-view light anomaly... When wound and start/stop slide moved to the right, the bird appears suddenly through square tooled pierced gilt grille, then preparing to sing he moves bone beak, wings and body from side-to-side to complex continuous synchronised birdsong. The bird with light brown feathered plumage, overall iridescent highlights in green, red and orange, matt polished lid interior, the lid top with two love birds flying before flowering branch incised to the silver gilt ground, laurel leaf border, in plain polished tortoiseshell case, hidden key compartment at rear, start/stop button to front-right.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 1.4 in (3.56 cm)Width: 3.4 in (8.64 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1890
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2015337225762

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