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Singing bird automaton
Bird in cage of gilt metal wire, with ring carrying handle, on base of carved gilt wood, decorated around the bottom with a band of moulded gesso in relief. Base of cage covered with gold-coloured crushed velvet. Bird on perch of brass tubing, a mounted North American Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea). The bird's song is produced by means of a miniature whistle, the pitch varied by a piston, controlled by a cam, which varies the length of the whistle tube.
- Date:
c.1900 - Maker:
Bontems - Collection:
National Museums Liverpool - Inventory number:
Loading... - Place of production:
Paris (Timezone: Europe/Paris)