A MENAGERIE of animal-themed curiosities worth thousands of pounds are set to go under the hammer in a North-East auction house.

A rare continental singing bird box, known as the “boîte à oiseau chanteur”, carries an estimated cost of between £5,000 and £7,000 and will be on offer in a Darlington sale room next week.

The late 19th century enamel box is operated by a wind-up clockwork motor which charms the singing bird out from an opening in the top of the box.

David Elstob, an auctioneer and value at Thomas Watson, said: “These tiny musical bird boxes have become highly collectible and examples like this are hard to come by.

“They are also charming pieces to own and even in this age of advanced technology, hearing the tiny singing bird brings a smile to people’s faces. This particular example has a lovely song.”

The Thomas Watson’s autumn antiques catalogue sale on Tuesday, September 27, will also feature an unusual dog’s head continental snuff box and a novelty cat-shaped brooch.

The unusual five centimetre-high silver snuff box has been valued at £500 to £700 and the textured gold cat brooch with articulated limbs carries a guide price of £1,000 to £1,500.

Several other creature-related items will also be offered during the antiques sale that will begin at 10am in the Thomas Watson auction house, off Northumberland Street.

For more information, call 01325-462559 or email enquiries@thomaswatson.com