Vintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by Eschle


A vintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by Eschle,
 
German
 
mid 20th century
 
A touch of German class...
 
When wound and the sprung-return start/stop pull actuated, the bird lid opens as the bird suddenly appears, moving polished metal beak, flapping both wings energetically, bobbing tailfeather and turning entire body from side-to-side, perfectly synchronised to the continuous softly phrased birdsong.
 
The bird with radiant yet light toned feathered plumage in light dove grey, speckled brown, with flashes of mustard yellow and blood red, rising up through pressed and pierced gilt grille with bird-form centrum, all reflected in the lid interior with highly polished finish, in the gilt metal framed case, with bird lid and central main lid of very cleverly painted finished inset panels to resemble tortoiseshell, framed with the gilt metal engine engraved with wave-line design, repeated to all sides and front as alternating panel and metal bands, underside of entire faux tortoiseshell panel, raised up on cork cored half-bun feet.
 
size - 4in. wide, 2.1/2in. deep, 1.3/4in. high - (10 x 6.5 x 4.5cm)
 
Reference -
Mechanical Singing-bird Tabatiéres, G. T. Mayson, p.150 for a view of this movement model by Eschle.
 
Point of Interest
Eschle were the firm who produced good quality bird boxes and small cages, conveniently peaking turnover between the golden periods of Karl Griesbaum and Reuge. 
As with all makers of singing bird boxes, they had their own design and engineering patterns for certain elements of the movement, such as the bellows reservoir spring mounted laterally from a wrap-around bellows clamp and the governor as a stumped conical one-piece unit. 
A delight to work on and reliable, Eschle are not to be overlooked simply because they are one of the later manufacturers - they are to be congratulated for their success in the important story of the singing bird.
 
Refined design, good use of colour and quality to trust, have a look at this piece of vintage beauty which also happens to be one of the lower-ceiling priced pieces at Douglas Fisher.
STOCK No1593
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Vintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by Eschle
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Vintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by EschleVintage gilt metal and faux tortoiseshell inset singing bird box, by Eschle
 
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