Triple automaton “Singing Birds” in a domed cageSold

The automaton is made in the form of an octagonal dome cage made of thin brass rods, reinforced with two chased decorative belts, and mounted on a faceted pedestal made of gilded brass. The cage is completed with a polished brass ball with a movable ring-handle, typical of Bontems products. The pedestal is decorated with a chased garland of roses, the corner edges are decorated with leaf rosettes, and a chased leaf border is placed along the lower edge.
Inside the cage are three mechanical birds with plumage made of natural feathers, imitating various songbirds: a gray-blue bird is mounted on a twisted perch with metal leaves, the other two are on the bottom of the cage, covered with fabric: one with a red-orange breast and a black head (like a bullfinch/dughead), the second is an ocher-brown color.
The spring is wound with an original hammer (T-shaped) type key inserted into the hole on the side face of the pedestal; On the lower plane there is a start-stop lever for the mechanism. When launched, the birds imitate singing: they turn, flap their wings and tails, open their beaks; the sound is produced by a cam-controlled bellows mechanism hidden in the pedestal.
Attribution and tagging
The work belongs to the production of the famous workshop Bontems, a leading Parisian company in the field of automata with singing birds. The typology of the dome with a spherical end and ring, the design of the cage and pedestal are fully consistent with the workshop’s signature designs.
Founded by Blaise Bontems (1821–1892), the workshop set standards in the production of mechanical singing birds from the mid-19th century; The company's products were delivered to the courts of European monarchs and distributed throughout the world. Bontems triple automatons are one of the most collectible categories of his products.
Condition
An item with traces of long-term use requires conservation measures:
Cage: Brass bars and decorative bands have an even patina with some darkening/corrosion; spherical end with ring - in good condition, with light scratches.
Pedestal: gilding largely preserved, with wear on projecting parts; local loss of gilding (chips) on the upper edge and sides; the embossed decor is clearly legible.
Birds: the plumage of all three automata is worn, faded and lost in places (most significantly on the blue-gray bird on the perch); the red-orange bird retains the most striking coloration; glass eyes preserved.
Bottom fabric: faded, with dirt and signs of wear, requires replacement or preservation.
Complete set: the original hammer-type winding key is present.
Mechanism: in working order / requires maintenance and adjustment.