Rare singing bird box by Bontems of France in tortoiseshell and silver. This is one of the very first Bontems boxes and dates probably from the 1880's or earlier. The tortoiseshell case is considerably smaller than the usual Bontems No. 7 case in fact 13% smaller. The bird is an earlier fuller figured bird, almost duck shaped, the grille is unusually engraved and there are numerous differences with the movement. The parts all appear to be hand made rather than standard and stamped out as the later Bontems boxes are, although all are of high quality. On pressing the operating lever the lid opens and the fullbodied bird pops through the grille & begins singing. It has a moving ivory beak, the bird turns, flaps his wings and tail and after his performance pops down through the grille & the lid lowers. French by Bontems circa 1880. 9.6 cm wide by 6.3 cm deep by 3.2 cm high.