Box with Bird Automaton

Original Solid Silver Box with Singing Automaton Bird, made by Kart Griesbaum in Germany. Rectangular box of lobed contour with the entire surface engraved with vegetal scrolls and decorative birds. The chiseling is beautifully done by hand, hence it is not the perfect contour, but denotes a greater value to the piece. On the front right side of the box appears the figure of a little bird that is a lever and that when operated makes the automaton bird inside start singing while moving its wings and beak. It has a winding mechanism that is operated by inserting a key in a hole in the bottom, the bottom of the box is beautifully decorated as is the top. The back of the box has a hinged lid that opens to guard the key. This is a totally original piece, with the silver marks perfectly visible on the oval on the bottom: the purity of the 925 silver, the moon and the crown, German silver counterparts, as well as the name of the silversmith: J.K. The mechanism is in perfect working order, perfectly adjusted, and its beautiful melody can be heard from the first day.Music boxes as an object in itself, can be said to have its birth in the eighteenth century, but not consolidated as object for listening to music until the nineteenth century. They arise from an important and well-known Swiss industry that would start making watches, but later would develop the first music boxes from which different and innovative pieces would be made all over the world. The casing of these fantastic devices can be made with the most diverse materials, as in this case of silver, beautifully decorated with inlays and engravings that make them more attractive.Original box that will delight a good collection of antique music boxes.Measures: 4 x 10 x 6.5 cm.