Portal-type automatic watch with three singing birds under a glass dome, limited edition No. 8/9Not for sale

The automaton is designed in a spectacular portal (“altar”) composition: an oval base of red lacquer with gilded rods and a through cartouche of roses carries two red columns with gilded foliate capitals, supporting a monumental gilded rocaille cartouche with a dial. The white enamel dial with Roman numerals and Breguet hands is signed “REUGE MUSIC” with the signature lyre.
Under an oval glass dome, on a platform covered in red velvet and decorated with genuine moss, lichen and silk flowers, there are three mechanical singing birds with plumage made from natural feathers:
A large perching bird - with a “scaly” gray-blue neck, a bright yellow chest and a yellow rump with dark wings and a long tail (a type of yellow-breasted finch/starfish);
A small bird of a dark color with turquoise speckling on the head and chestnut markings (type of “jewel” finches/cordon bleu);
A small bird with a black head, an ocher “collar” of pointed feathers and chestnut-colored wings (finch/finch type).
When the machine starts, the birds “sing” - they turn their heads, flap their wings and tails, open their beaks; The sound is produced by a bellows mechanism with a reed whistle. The Reuge mechanical bird consists of 44 parts, hand-assembled in the Sainte-Croix workshop
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. The winding is separate: two original keys - a large gilded one with a figured head (automatic) and a small one (hourly movement), which corresponds to the proprietary Reuge scheme with independent winding of the watch and “singing”
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Marking
Dial: "REUGE MUSIC" with lyre.
Brass plate on the platform: “REUGE MUSIC / SAINTE‑CROIX / N° 8/9” - numbered plate in a limited edition of nine pieces, No. 8.
Historical background
Manufacture Reuge, founded in 1865 in Sainte-Croix
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, in the 1960s, took over the legacy of the Parisian company Bontems and remains the only manufactory in the world that still creates automata of singing birds using traditional technology
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. The portal clock with singing birds and rocaille cartouche is a characteristic Reuge product of the late 20th century, developing the type of “bird clock” of the 19th century
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Condition
Item in excellent condition:
Gilding and varnish: cartouche, capitals and mounts - bright, without losses; red base varnish with light traces of wear.
Dial: clean enamel, no chips; arrows and signature saved.
Dome: intact, no chips.
Birds: plumage preserved, bright colors; slight ruffled feathers; eyes and beaks are intact.
Floristry: moss and lichen are dry, stable; silk flowers with slight fading; velvet with slight dustiness.
Completeness: both original keys; number fee.