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Early 20th Century West German Gilded Singing Bird Automaton
$2,000
£1,511.10
€1,750.39
CA$2,817.63
A$3,144.77
CHF 1,647.32
MX$38,345.66
NOK 20,833.74
SEK 19,537.23
DKK 13,064.88
About the Item
An enchanting jewel of mechanical artistry! This early 20th-century singing bird automaton evokes the romance of Europe's golden age of craftsmanship. Encased within an elegantly domed gilded brass cage with an ornate acanthus-cast finial and richly textured base, a brilliantly plumed songbird, resplendent in vivid yellow feathers with eye-catching black accents, perches amidst hand-fashioned foliage and a delicate turquoise blossom.
At the turn of the key, the bird springs to life: its beak opens in song, its head turns, and its tail flickers in harmony with the crystalline warble of its voice. The performance is as much a feat of engineering as it is a celebration of beauty, capturing the fascination with automata that delighted collectors and connoisseurs throughout Europe.
Set against a regal burgundy velvet stage, this automaton embodies both mechanical ingenuity and decorative refinement, making it a treasure for collectors of fine music boxes, rare automatons, and objects de vertu.
- Dimensions:Height: 10 in (25.4 cm)Diameter: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Style:Rococo Revival (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Circa 1930
- Condition:Repaired: The automaton has been professionally serviced and is in full working order, with the bird's movements and melodious song functioning as intended. See video for proof. Wear consistent with age and use. The gilded brass cage retains a warm, lustrous finish with only minor age-appropriate wear consistent with its circa 1930 origin.
- Seller Location:Middleburg, VA
- Reference Number:Seller: 62891stDibs: LU872646334242
About the Seller
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