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“Romantic duet: robin and swallow in a cage with roses”Sold
This bird has been sold and will soon leave the hall.
Description
An exquisite example of turn-of-the-century decorative arts and complex horology. The automaton is made in the form of an elegant cage with a richly ornamented cast base in the neo-Rococo style. Inside, on a shaped perch decorated with decorative flora, there are realistic birds made using natural feathers.
When the spring mechanism is wound up, the birds come to life: they smoothly turn their heads, open their beaks, flutter their wings and wag their tails. The sound is created by a pneumatic module hidden inside the base, which imitates the complex, iridescent bird trills. The item served as a luxurious decoration for the offices and living rooms of the aristocracy, demonstrating the highest level of engineering of its time.
Mechanism passport
| Drive type | Spring, friction-cam automatic with pneumatic voice module. |
|---|---|
| Energy | Mainspring hidden in a brass drum inside a solid base. Winding is carried out using an external key or side handle. |
| Kinematics | A gear system transmits rotation to a programmed camshaft. Profile cams, through a system of wire rods and levers with return springs, control micro-movements of the body, wings, tail and head of the birds. |
| Acoustics | A folded bellows (leather or fabric) forces air into a miniature piston whistle with a movable gate. Changing the volume of air and blocking the holes of the whistle creates realistic polyphonic singing. |
| Adjustment | The centrifugal speed controller (or air brake) ensures smooth, even movement without allowing the mechanism to spin up too quickly. |
| Frame | Steel plates and brass posts; wooden support blocks are used as bearing units. |
