Antique European Sterling Silver & Enamel Singing Bird Box c.1900

Exceptional, fine and impressive antique European sterling silver and enamel singing bird box; an addition to our ornamental silverware collection. This exceptional antique sterling silver gilt and enamel singing bird box has a rectangular form. The surface of the antique box is embellished with exceptional blue hot enamel panels accented with plain silver gilt borders. The sides of the body are further encompassed with simplified foliate festoon decorated borders. The upper plateau of the box is fitted with a further impressive hot enamel panel, incorporating an engraved floral silver gilt border and oval hinged cover to the centre. This functional singing bird box is initiated by sliding an impressive hot enamel decorated switch to the anterior face, allowing the cover to open. The cover allows access for the original hinged three-dimensional bird to rotate to a perpendicular position to display movement to its wings and body, in addition to a variable audible tone representing a tweeting bird; an example of this sound can be found in video. This exceptional box is supported by four impressive simplified bracket style feet. The underside of the box is plain and bears the mechanisms winding port; the fully functional piece is supplied with a winding key. This impressive European musical box retains the original gilding. Such examples are often in a distressed condition, to locate a sterling silver gilt singing bird box in this fine and original condition is becoming increasingly difficult. Maker: Unmarked