Singing Birds

Cage with two singing birds

    Cage with two singing birds

    Western Europe

    Late 19th century

    Brass, steel, velvet, painted feathers; presswork, mechanical work

    Height 25 cm

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    The cage made of thin metal wire rods with dome and ball-shaped pendant with ring fixed on cast-gilded plate is mounted on brass-stepped socle with three chiselled feet. The base covered with dark green velvet is inside the cage. Cylindrical racks of different height are mounted on the stand with two birds are sitting on them. One bird has red and black plumage, the other - red and black one. Branches with artificial leaves and flowers enlace the racks. The winding key is in the winding hole in the socle flat bottom, the lever for switching the mechanism on the bottom. Cam mechanism with bellows, piccolo pipe with movable piston and spring drive is mounted inside the stand. When the mechanism is winded and activated, birds on the branch utter trills, roll up in turn on the racks, turn their heads, open and close the beaks in phase with the tails' movements.

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    Инв.200/ММП