Singing Bird Box Automaton with Poem, c. 1930

Germany, with going-barrel movement, whistle and bellows, the bird with tri-color plumage, articulated metal beak, wings, tail and swiveling perch, in two-tier gilt-metal case decorated with stone-set filigree mounts, an enameled butterfly and a window with paper-covered cylinder that rotates to reveal a different rhyming couplet each time the movement is activated: "It can be said with flowers, With bows and smiles in showers/But I can't speak a single word, Cause I am only a little bird/So I'll say it with a song, I think a lot of you … So long", wd. 4 ½ x ht. 4 in. (11 x 10 cm), working and singing condition. With brass bird-form key and original fabric-covered carrying case. A rare and romantic singing bird box.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)