Fine, rare and beautiful Swiss shell and enamel automated singing bird box by Charles Brugier Pere, Geneva, circa 1850. The shell box in particularly fine condition with a hinged key compartment in the back. Fusee movement. The top of the cover finely painted with flowers and birds, the underside with a bouquet of flowers against a blue background. When the slide is activated the lid opens, the colorful feathered bird pops up and moves from side to side moving its beak, neck, wings and tail in time with the chirps produced by the internal bellows and tuned pipe. Then the bird drops back into the box and the lid closes automatically.
This is a wonderful little gem in particularly fine condition throughout.
