A silver cased singing bird box in the form of a book Probably by Karl Griesbaum, Triberg, 20th century The box in the form of a closed book cast with simulated tooled designs to spine and foliate spandrel reinforcements to the corners, the top centred with an oval porcelain cabochon painted with a female portrait opening on demand to reveal the 'oiseux chatant' automata which flaps its wings and opens its metal beak whilst pirouetting to a multi-note call before retracting behind foliate pierced and engraved inner fretwork panel when the cover closes, the right hand 'top edge' with activation plunger and stamped 925, the underside with key for winding, 12.5cm (5ins) long. Provenance: The beneficiary of the Estate of a private collector, East Midlands.