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German Silver-Gilt and Enamel Singing Bird Box
$16,500
£12,569.79
€14,494.90
CA$23,372.65
A$25,096.37
CHF 13,503.89
MX$296,991.07
NOK 170,124.37
SEK 155,162.92
DKK 108,302.65
About the Item
German Silver-Gilt and Enamel Singing Bird Box
Date marked 1926
This exceptional singing bird box represents the pinnacle of mechanical and decorative artistry, uniting ingenious automation with richly detailed enameling. Conceived as a luxury object, the German masterpiece delights both the eye and ear, with its stunning artistry and magnificent chirping bird. This treasure embodies the enduring fascination with animated works that blur the line between art and engineering.
The silver-gilt case is lavishly adorned with enamel-painted panels. Its domed lid depicts a château set before a tranquil lake, while the lid extends the narrative with a musician and three elegantly dressed ladies in wooded grounds. Pastoral scenes embellish the front and rear panels, framed by cobalt-blue enamel borders with fine white line inlay and lornette-frieze motifs. Decorative urn-form corner mounts and a sculptural silver-gilt start/stop pull complete the composition. When activated, the case springs open to reveal a brilliantly feathered automaton bird whose wings and body move gracefully in harmony with a sweet, warbling song produced by a finely engineered barrel-wound mechanism.
Singing bird boxes first appeared in Europe during the 1780s, commissioned by royalty and elite patrons as marvels of both science and art. By the early 20th century, these objects remained highly coveted, produced only by workshops capable of mastering their complex mechanics. This German example bears London import marks, including the Leo symbol, along with the sponsor’s mark of Stockwell
Company, a prominent 19th-century firm.
2" high x 4" wide x 2 1/2" deep
- Dimensions:Height: 2 in (5.08 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1926
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New Orleans, LA
- Reference Number:Seller: 32-21501stDibs: LU891148260762
About the Seller
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- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: New Orleans, LA
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