Singing Birds

Cage with two singing birds

    Cage with two singing birds

    France, Paris

    1870

    Bontems, Blaise

    Wood, steel, brass, leather, painted feathers; gilding, carpentry and mechanical works

    53 x 24 x 23 cm

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    The cage is made of straight metal wire rods with dome and golden color pendant in the upper part. The cage is mounted on wooden octagonal stand with protruding socle and cast embossed onlays with floral ornament of golden color, on eight supports. A bird in bright painted feathers of yellow shades sits behind the bush with flowers on the stand top panel covered with green velvet. A bird in red and black plumage with long tail sits on metal rack with crossbar. The rack is decorated with flowers and leaves made of fabric and is fixed next to the bush. Flat tube for coins’ selection is to the right.
    Cam mechanism with bellows, piccolo pipe and spring drive, with winding hole and key is inside the stand to the right. Pullout drawer for coins is below in the socle. Then the mechanism is winded and a coin is put in the slot, the birds start to utter trills in turn, open and close their beaks, turn their heads and move their tails.

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    Инв.1624.1-2/ММП