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Miniature Singing bird in cage by Karl Griesbaum

About the Item

A very good single singing bird in cage, by Karl Griesbaum, German Circa 1940 Continuous and paused action A petit wonder of style and grace... When wound and the start/stop/pause lever actuated, the bird on perch springs into life by turning head from side to side, opening and closing beak and bobbing tailfeather in perfect synchronisation to the continuous, or paused, birdsong, brought to a halt once lever is slid to the stop position. The bird with soft red feathered plumage, accompanied by wide streaks of black to bib, wing tips and fanned tailfeather, upon small brass T bar perch decorated with pressed leaves and trails, flower buds and a toadstool, green base, under the rectangular domed cage with hoop and cast boss top, flower and ribbon-chase intermediate and top bands, double twist corner bars at the canted corners, on gilt finished pressed metal base with geometric relief to all sides. The engineering feats Griesbaum was capable of is to be respected. Following the workshop skills of Bontems, many features were used and enhanced by this German firm and in some ways, perfected further. The pause feature on this cage really emphasizes the naturalistic qualities seen and indeed heard in the wild, by breaking up the continuous phase into smaller varying lengths. The air in the reservoir slowly escaping in a controlled manner, until the governor is freed to spin and the cams to work through the next phase and so forth.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 11 in (27.94 cm)Width: 6.5 in (16.51 cm)Depth: 5 in (12.7 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1940
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2015339395422
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