Singing Birds

Cage with three singing birds

    Cage with three singing birds

    Switzerland

    Late 19th century

    Steel, fabric, brass, leather, painted feathers; wood carving, gilding, mechanical work

    24 x 56.5 x 24

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    Cylindrical cage, assembled from thin metal wire rods with dome and pendant in the form of a ball with a ring on the top. The cage is mounted on round gilded socle decorated with blue velvet stripe, with wide gilded carved plinth on three ornately shaped feet-balls. The swivel switch lever is fixed on the socle bottom part. Its end is protruding outward; winding hole is in the lateral side. Three birds are inside the cage. Two of them are sitting on the covered with blue velvet floor, the third one - is on the gilded T-shaped rack. The feathers of one of the birds sitting at the bottom are gray with several orange and white feathers. Another bird has multicolor plumage. The upper bird has black and orange feathers. A door with lock is on the cage lateral side. Cam mechanism with bellows, piccolo pipe with movable piston and spring drive is mounted inside the stand. The spring is key-winded. When the mechanism is winded and activated, the birds emit trills, turn their heads, open and close their beaks in phase with the tails ‘movements.

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    Инв.149/ММП