Cage with three singing birds
Cage with three singing birds
Western Europe
Late 19th century
Wood, steel, brass, leather, painted feathers; carving, gilding, mechanical work
31 x 53.5 x 25 cm
The cage made of thin metal wire rods with dome and ball-shaped pendant with ring in the top part, is fixed on rectangular gilded socle with bevelled corners that is decorated with carved floral ornament and fretted plinth. A winding hole is in the right lateral side. Activating cord with small ball at the end is in the bottom. A rock with imitation of plant formation comprised of painted feathers, grass-blades from papier-mache and a mirror fragment as small puddle are inside the cage. Artificial branch is fixed on the rock.
The bird in red plumage with black
wings and tail seats on the branch. Two birds – one with blue, light blue and
black feathers, the other one with green, light blue, orange and black feathers
sit on the rock next to it. A door with latch is on the cage right lateral side. Cam mechanism with bellows, piccolo pipe with movable piston and spring drive is mounted inside the socle. The spring
is winded with the key. When the mechanism is winded and activated, the birds
utter trills, turn their heads, open and close their beaks in phase with the
tails’ movements. The winding key is in the set.
Инв.203.1-2/ММП