Cabinet of Automatonssinging mechanical birds
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Songbird · Hall I

Duet of songbirds in a carved brass cageNot for sale

Century
20
Origin
France
Maker
Bontham's workshop
Materials
Brass, artistic casting, embossing, natural feathers, glass eyes, metal (perch, frame), fabric/velvet (leaves, roses, green cloth bottom).
450 000 ₽

This bird is not for sale.

Description

Luxurious table machine from the Belle Époque era. When you turn the key, the mechanism comes into action: two realistic birds come to life. They simultaneously turn their heads, open their beaks, flutter their wings and wag their tails, imitating a live roll call in the forest. The sound is produced using a bellows and whistle hidden inside, creating a gentle, iridescent trill. The massive base is decorated with rich relief ornaments in the neo-Rococo style. The selector lever on the base (positions 3-2-1) allows you to change the operating mode of the machine or select one of the stored melodies. An outstanding example of cabinet luxury and engineering of its time.

Mechanism passport

Height~35–40 cm
Drive typeSpring, friction-cam (factory with an external key).
VoiceBellows-whistle system, 2 independent or synchronized voices (simulation of a duet).
FunctionsMovement of heads, beaks, wings and tails of both birds; mode switch in 3 positions (3-2-1).