Rare Singing Bird Box by Bontems, c. 1890

With going-barrel movement, stack of eight horizontal cams, whistle and bellows, bird with charcoal-grey plumage, green-tipped wings, swiveling perch, articulated bone beak, wings and tail, in tall composition case with inlaid mother-of-pearl stars, restrained scalloped grille and gilt-metal lid with repousse musical trophies, wd. 4 3/8 x ht. 2 1/8 in. (11 x 5.5 cm)., working and singing, bird does not return when lid closed, repaired hairline split on underside, one mounting screw missing. With key. - Note: Though produced during the late 19th century, this singing bird box bears similarities to earlier pieces by Bruguier and Rochat. The bird is larger and the case deeper than is customary for a going-barrel movement. The additional case depth is used to accommodate the substantial motor and the stack of eight song cams which shift on their arbor after each revolution in the manner of a fusee movement. Unusually, the spring is wound from the left side of the case. An unusual and possibly experimental design.

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)