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German Singing Bird Box
German Enamel and Gilt-Metal Bird Box
Emil Brenk
Circa 1880
This exceptional bird box displays a Rococo-style enamel and gilded case by Emil Brenk. The lid is decorated with a miniature enamel painting of The Swing, after Jean-Honoré Fragonard, with finely painted enamel scenes along the sides. Concealed beneath the lid is a meticulously engineered singing bird automaton, activated by a going-barrel movement that animates the bird’s beak, wings and body while producing a sweet, warbling song.
Upon opening the case, a vividly feathered bird springs to life, moving gracefully in perfect synchrony with its melodic song. Each motion of the automaton is coordinated with the music, creating a lifelike performance that delights both the eyes and ears. The intricate Rococo-style decoration, including the hand-painted enamel scenes, elevates the work beyond a mechanical curiosity into a luxurious objet d'art.
Emil Brenk was known for continuing the tradition of European singing bird boxes, blending Austrian mechanical expertise with ornate artistry. His works reflect the enduring legacy of 18th-century automaton craftsmanship, commissioned by royalty and elite patrons, while incorporating the vibrant aesthetic of Rococo revival in the late 19th century. Brenk’s works are prized for their technical precision, artistic quality and rarity.
Bears the maker's mark of Emil Brenk
1 7/8" high x 4" wide x 2 3/8" deep
Emil Brenk
Circa 1880
This exceptional bird box displays a Rococo-style enamel and gilded case by Emil Brenk. The lid is decorated with a miniature enamel painting of The Swing, after Jean-Honoré Fragonard, with finely painted enamel scenes along the sides. Concealed beneath the lid is a meticulously engineered singing bird automaton, activated by a going-barrel movement that animates the bird’s beak, wings and body while producing a sweet, warbling song.
Upon opening the case, a vividly feathered bird springs to life, moving gracefully in perfect synchrony with its melodic song. Each motion of the automaton is coordinated with the music, creating a lifelike performance that delights both the eyes and ears. The intricate Rococo-style decoration, including the hand-painted enamel scenes, elevates the work beyond a mechanical curiosity into a luxurious objet d'art.
Emil Brenk was known for continuing the tradition of European singing bird boxes, blending Austrian mechanical expertise with ornate artistry. His works reflect the enduring legacy of 18th-century automaton craftsmanship, commissioned by royalty and elite patrons, while incorporating the vibrant aesthetic of Rococo revival in the late 19th century. Brenk’s works are prized for their technical precision, artistic quality and rarity.
Bears the maker's mark of Emil Brenk
1 7/8" high x 4" wide x 2 3/8" deep
$4,497.50
Original: $12,850.00
-65%German Singing Bird Box—
$12,850.00
$4,497.50Description
German Enamel and Gilt-Metal Bird Box
Emil Brenk
Circa 1880
This exceptional bird box displays a Rococo-style enamel and gilded case by Emil Brenk. The lid is decorated with a miniature enamel painting of The Swing, after Jean-Honoré Fragonard, with finely painted enamel scenes along the sides. Concealed beneath the lid is a meticulously engineered singing bird automaton, activated by a going-barrel movement that animates the bird’s beak, wings and body while producing a sweet, warbling song.
Upon opening the case, a vividly feathered bird springs to life, moving gracefully in perfect synchrony with its melodic song. Each motion of the automaton is coordinated with the music, creating a lifelike performance that delights both the eyes and ears. The intricate Rococo-style decoration, including the hand-painted enamel scenes, elevates the work beyond a mechanical curiosity into a luxurious objet d'art.
Emil Brenk was known for continuing the tradition of European singing bird boxes, blending Austrian mechanical expertise with ornate artistry. His works reflect the enduring legacy of 18th-century automaton craftsmanship, commissioned by royalty and elite patrons, while incorporating the vibrant aesthetic of Rococo revival in the late 19th century. Brenk’s works are prized for their technical precision, artistic quality and rarity.
Bears the maker's mark of Emil Brenk
1 7/8" high x 4" wide x 2 3/8" deep
Emil Brenk
Circa 1880
This exceptional bird box displays a Rococo-style enamel and gilded case by Emil Brenk. The lid is decorated with a miniature enamel painting of The Swing, after Jean-Honoré Fragonard, with finely painted enamel scenes along the sides. Concealed beneath the lid is a meticulously engineered singing bird automaton, activated by a going-barrel movement that animates the bird’s beak, wings and body while producing a sweet, warbling song.
Upon opening the case, a vividly feathered bird springs to life, moving gracefully in perfect synchrony with its melodic song. Each motion of the automaton is coordinated with the music, creating a lifelike performance that delights both the eyes and ears. The intricate Rococo-style decoration, including the hand-painted enamel scenes, elevates the work beyond a mechanical curiosity into a luxurious objet d'art.
Emil Brenk was known for continuing the tradition of European singing bird boxes, blending Austrian mechanical expertise with ornate artistry. His works reflect the enduring legacy of 18th-century automaton craftsmanship, commissioned by royalty and elite patrons, while incorporating the vibrant aesthetic of Rococo revival in the late 19th century. Brenk’s works are prized for their technical precision, artistic quality and rarity.
Bears the maker's mark of Emil Brenk
1 7/8" high x 4" wide x 2 3/8" deep
