19th Century French Mechanical Singing Bird in Gilded Cage by Bontems

Live Auction

20" (51 cm.) Inside a wooden-based cage with gold-leaf finish, gilt ormolu fencing and hinged door, and with heavy brass ball finial and handle is a bronze perch decorated with silk flowers upon which is perched a green feathered bird. When wound, the bird flutters back and forth, opens and closes its beak, twitches tail feathers, and chirps merrily in a very realistic manner. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: France, circa 1880, Bontems who specialized in creating perfectly-replicated bird songs and movements in his luxury automata. Value Points: beautifully-preserved singing bird in cage with luxury details, perfect working condition. Ex-collection Christian Bailly.