France, Paris

Circa 1900

Henry Phalibois

Metal, fabric, leather, wood, painted feathers; casting, presswork, mechanical work

52 x 28 x 28 cm

On the base bottom: “MADE IN FRANCE”

Cage is made from straight and spiralled metal rods with two belts of embossed ornament, dome and golden color suspension in the upper part. The cage is mounted on metal base in the form of golden color cylinder with embossed foliage ornament on the polished surface, on three supports. Rack with crossbar, decorated with ivy branches and white flowers, on which a bird with variegated plumage with long tail sits is fixed on the base top panel that is covered with light-brown velvet; next to that rack, in the leaves, sits the other bird with yellow head. Cam mechanism with bellows, small piccolo pipe, spring drive and an aperture for the winding crank and activating lever are inside the base. Inscription “MADE IN FRANCE” is on the base bottom side. When the mechanism is activated, the birds in turn warble, open and close their beaks, turn their heads and move the tails.