An antique French singing bird box by the famous company Bontems. The robust and heavy box of superb gilt bronze with exquisite engraving over the whole box which has canted corners. The engraving is of swags of roses and ribbons. To the base and to the top moulding are lines of laurel leaves tied with ribbon. To the lifting lid is an engraving of a basket, filled with trailing flowers hanging from a ribbon. The winding hole in the base is very unusually for a spring barrel box, off centre. The reason for this is soon seen as when the operating lever to the front ( disguised as part of the laurel leaf banding) is operated and the lid lifts, the bird rises through the gilt bronze pierced lid and starts singing, moving from left to right, flapping his wings and beak as normal, then the key drawer to the front begins to open. It opens very smoothly to the fully open position then two thirds through his performance the drawer starts to close again and shuts just before he finishes performing. I have never seen this function on a bird box before and it operates remotely from the one mechanism. French by Bontems circa 1900. 4.25 inches wide by 2.25 inches deep by 2.75 inches deep ( 10.625 cms by 5.625 cms by 6.875 cms).