Singing Birds with Pond and Waterfall

Live Auction

Arranged upon an ebony-finished wooden base is a garden like setting with tree, branches, flowers, mossy ground, hillocks, flowers and ferns. A mirror, set into the ground, forms a pond, and a twisted glass spiral forms the waterfall. There are four brilliantly feathered birds in the tree branches, two of which are mechanized. Movements: the bird on uppermost branch flutters feathers, the bird at the waterfall bobs up and down as though drinking water; the waterfall turns in a realistic manner. Blaise Bontems, France, circa 1880. 28" (70 cm). Three movements.