Passed
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Description
27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon the velvet-covered surface of a cast bronze urn with elaborate raised designs,four hinged carrying handles,and stylized raised feet are tree branches whose leaves are actually mother-of-pearl shells. Posed in the center is a multi-colored mechanical bird and on other branches there are three other sedentary colorful feathered birds. The bird turns its head side-to-side and,independently,flutters its tail. Its beak opens and closes,and it tweets,trills and chirps with lovely melodious sounds. Bontems,Paris,circa 1880,with original plaque "Ch. Bontems,Fabricant,Rue de Clery 72,Paris". A rare presentation by the maker,both in the use of the bronze urn and in the use of mother-of-pearl tree leaves,clearly designed for the luxury trade. An interesting anecdote related in the 1867 book,Les Jouets by Henri Nicole tells that the Paris Opera Comique had contemplated creating a forest illusion with Bontems' birds for their upcoming Robinson Crusoe opera by Offenbach,so realistic and charming were these creations.