French Mechanical Singing Bird in Gilt Cage

Live Auction

11" (28 cm.) A gilt metal birdcage with brass carrying loop features an interior arrangement of flowers and leaves and a brass bird perch upon which is posed a feathered bird. When wound,the bird flutters his tail feathers,turns his head,and chirps and tweets in a very realistic manner. Excellent condition,well-functioning. French,late 19th century,in the tradition of mechanical singing birds made popular by Bontems in the mid-19th century,with sounds that exactly copied actual bird songs.