Singing Birds

Cage with two singing birds

    Cage with two singing birds

    Western Europe

    Late 19th century

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

    Height 63 cm

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    The cage comprised of thin metal wire rods with dome and ball-shaped pendant, with ring on the top, is mounted on wooden square stand with carved decorative onlays in the form of floral garlands. A rock with imitation of plant formation made of painted moss, shells, grass-blades and a mirror fragment as small puddle are inside the cage. A branch supplemented by smaller wire branches with artificial leaves, red and yellow flowers is fixed on the rock. A bird  in blue plumage with black wings and tail sits on the branch. A nest with the other bird with similar plumage is in the greenery on the same  branch. A door with latch is on the cage side. Switching lever with round knob is beneath the door. Winding hole is in the one of the stand facets. Cam mechanism with bellows, piccolo pipe with movable piston and spring drive is mounted inside the stand. When the mechanism is winded and activated, the bird on the branch utters trills, turns its head, opens and closes the beak in phase with the tail movements. The bird in the nest flaps its wings, opens and closes its beak.

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    Инв.153/ММП