Cheffins
Lot 288
An early 20th century German metalwares singing bird box automaton, circa 1930, apparently unmarked but probably by Karl Greisbaum, Triberg, model number 3, of rectangular form, decorated all over with cast repoussé pastoral and tavern scenes in the style of Teniers, hinged compartment to the rear containing the key, winding aperture to the underside and bird-shaped start/stop sliding lever to the front right, the top with an oval piano hinged section to the centre; on sliding the operating lever the cover opens and the full bodied bird with multi coloured layered feathered plumage and ivory beak rises through the finely tooled and pierced gilt grille and begins singing, moving the wings and beak to realistic bird song, 10 x 6.5cm, 4cm high Provenance: Collection of the late Sir Georg and Lady Solti For more than half a century the Karl Griesbaum Singvogelwerkstätte (Karl Griesbaum singing bird workshop) in Triberg, about 60 km north of the Swiss border, dominated the manufacture of boxes with singing birds. Its production capacity exceeded the production capacity of all other firms combined. This model was among the most popular and is included in Griesbaum's poster advertising the sixteen most popular types of Singvogeldosen in 1930.This item is offered for sale in accordance with the Ivory Act 2018 and has been assigned an exemption certificate, Ref No: XA2LDGBX Case: Generally in good condition with no obvious signs of repairs. The cover does not lie completely flat to the surface when closed. Sliding lever rather loose, but still fully operational.Mechanism: The box winds satisfactorily, and the key is included in the hinged compartment to the rear of the box. On sliding the lever to the right the lid opens, the bird rises through the grille and moves and sings as it should. It does not automatically retract into the box, but will do so and the cover will retract if the lever is moved back to the left, through the bird does continue to sing for a short while before stopping.
