A superb Freres Rochat singing bird box with fusee automaton movement. The tortoiseshell case with hinged snuff ( or key) compartment to the rear of the box. The top of the case with superb gold flowers inlaid into the case. The gold lid is finely hand painted in enamel with an excellent scene of the lake. The bezel surrounding the grille through which the bird pops up and down is also of gold. The underside of the lid is also beautifully painted with a posie of flowers on a blue ground. The grille is typical of Rochat's work rather than Bruguier's. The key wound chain driven fusee movement working the bellows & driving multiple cams that on sliding the engraved gold operating lever to the front, the lid opens and the bird pops up, sings its head off and 1/ turns its head from left to right, 2/ flaps the wings, 3/opens and shuts his beak. And finally 4/ pirouettes left and right. On completion of his 27 second performance he drops through the superbly pierced silver gilt grille and the lid closes after him. All fusee movements allow the bird a longer performance than the later spring barrel movements but more importantly one extra manipulation, the movement of the head from left to right. The enamel to the lid is perfect on both sides. Movement is stamped with the three tulips, for Frères Rochat. Swiss circa 1820