Antique Piece a Oiseau: Full Orchestral Singing Bird Automaton Music Box

A museum quality, extremely rare Piece a Oiseau full orchestral antique music box made by Ami Rivenc of Geneva in c. 1870. The movement features 6 engraved bells, drum, castanet, and a singing bird automaton visible through its own window at the front of the case. The exquisitely coloured feathered bird has four separate moving parts: head, beak, wings and tail. The beak moves in time with the music he makes, lending him a wonderfully realistic air. As an extra feature, the birdsong can be turned off at will -- although even when silent, the bird continues to move. He sits inside his original dried foliage nest, and has a beautiful tone to his birdsong, thanks to a 16-note organ. The bells are engraved and can be disengaged at will, as can the drum and castanet. The entire musical movement has been fully overhauled and cleaned, and now is in the best possible condition. The case is veneered rosewood with a wonderful quality central inlay to the lid of a winged cherub playing a lyre, seated on a brown bear