DESCRIPTION:
France, singing bird automaton, spring driven movement powers birdsong, as well as head, beak and tail feather motions, mounted on a gilt wood base with fluted canted corners and applied floral ornaments, the bird enclosed in a wire cage with velvet lined base and simulated flowers.
CONDITION:
The feathers on the bird are present though they are very dirty. The tail feathers that move are in some disarray. Velvet on base is dusty and worn. Brass cage has a very dark patina. The gilding has worn off of the high spots on the wood base. The leaves, flowers, and berries around the bird's perch are incomplete. The bellows have been restored in recent times and look sound. The motor runs vigorously, but the bird does not sing as it should so an air leak will have to be located. Head and beak motions function, but some of the tail feathers may be inhibiting the full action. The unsigned movement is stamped only with "63 ". It is quite possible that this piece is Swiss or German. The latter is especially likely because when some of the French firms closed, they sold their tooling to German companies who continued production of existing French models.
ESTIMATE:
$600
-
$800
PRICE SOLD:
$300
CIRCA: early 20th Century
DIMENSIONS: 10in x 6.5in x 5.25in
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