Skip to main content
Video Loading
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 12

A stunning Hexagonal shaped, gilt bronze and Sevres Singing Cage by Bontems

$27,467.10
£19,950
€23,498.10
CA$37,628.55
A$41,752.05
CHF 21,870.62
MX$511,992.21
NOK 278,186.77
SEK 262,596.45
DKK 175,240.09
Shipping
Retrieving quote...
The 1stDibs Promise:
Authenticity Guarantee,
Money-Back Guarantee,
24-Hour Cancellation

About the Item

A stunning and very fine Hexagonal gilt bronze and Sevres plaque single singing bird-in-cage, by Bontems, Going-barrel movement, When wound with the key and start/stop lever actuated, the large and perfectly perched red thrush begins to sing his chorus, moving naturalistic beak, tailfeather and head from side-to-side to continuous birdsong. One of the most sought after and most looked forward to models ever made by Bontems, this example is offered in pristine original condition. Hexagonal shaped, which is one of the rarer models you'll be lucky to come across, with 8 seperate porcelain plaques depicting lovers alternating with song birds within tooled gilt and bleu céleste borders Gilt bronze singing bird cages, usually with stained glass, or fine porcelain panel inserts, were made in limited numbers during the 19th century to commission orders. The first maker to offer a bird cage to this design was Jacquet Droz in about 1798 with his large singing bird in cage, fusee-driven with a clock to the underside so when hung up, its use was three-dimensional. Bontems created this with the past in mind and was no doubt the only maker to undertake such a feat to this degree of quality. The castings and finish to each element of the cage is truly amazing - not a single part disappoints the eye of a top collector. Take a very good look at the egg-and-dart moulded frieze at the base of the cage. Very much the detail one would expect from a carved wooden example which the craftsman would have spend many hours getting to this level of accuracy. As good as fine painted enamel, the porcelain panels with that lovely blue border strike up the perfect colour choice to go with the richness of the gilded bronze. A singing bird cage of the highest order.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 22 in (55.88 cm)Width: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Depth: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1880
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU2015343196962

More From This Seller

View All
Antique large double singing bird-in-cage, by Bontems
Located in London, GB
Double the fun... When wound and actuation lever set to continuous position, the pair of full taxidermy perched birds take turns to sing the continuous phrases, by opening and closi...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Musical Instruments

Materials

Brass

Antique coin-operated large double singing birds-in-cage, by Bontems
Located in London, GB
An antique coin-operated large double singing birds-in-cage, by Bontems, French circa 1900 Spend a penny in style When wound and a 1d. coin inse...
Category

Antique 1810s French Musical Instruments

Materials

Gesso

Large triple antique singing bird-in-cage, by Phallibois
Located in London, GB
Threes a crowd and a good sound... When wound and actuated by start/stop lever to side, the three birds take turns to sing passages of the sequential birdsong, moving beaks, heads a...
Category

Antique Early 1900s French Musical Instruments

Materials

Brass

good antique gilt bronze singing bird box, by Flajoulot
Located in London, GB
A good antique gilt bronze singing bird box, by Flajoulot, Circa 1910, Going barrel movement, Typical Flajoulet, clever design... When wound and start/stop button sli...
Category

Vintage 1910s French Musical Instruments

Materials

Bronze

Gilt Bronze, Pearl and Enamel Singing Bird Box by Bontems, circa 1890
By Bontems
Located in London, GB
A stunning gilt bronze and seed pearl singing bird box by Bontems of Paris - CIRCA 1890. The bird rises from beneath the enamal oval lid and is sure to delight!
Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze, Enamel

Composition tortoiseshell and gilt metal singing bird box
Located in London, GB
A good antique composition tortoiseshell and gilt metal singing bird box, German circa 1900 Going-barrel movement Setting the birds free... When wound and the sta...
Category

Antique Early 1900s Snuff Boxes and Tobacco Boxes

Materials

Tortoise Shell

You May Also Like

Brass Bird Cage - 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
lovely 19th century brass birdcage Beautiful small, very refined model with two brass eating containers which are very well sculpted The uprights are twisted which is unusual and ve...
Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Bird Cages

Materials

Brass

19th Century Austrian Large Antique Polished Brass Birdcage by Josef Denk
By Josef Denk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A large antique Austrian birdcage made of handcrafted metal, the vertical lattice struts are made of polished brass, designed by Josef Denk in good condition. The round decorative birdcage...
Category

Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Art Deco Bird Cages

Materials

Metal, Brass

French Gilt Tole Hexagonal Pagoda Birdcage with Bells
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Gilt Tole Hexagonal Pagoda Birdcage with Bells  France, 1900s This exquisite French gilt-tone hexagonal pagoda birdcage, dating from the early 1900s, is a beautifully made an...
Category

Early 20th Century French Chinoiserie Bird Cages

Materials

Metal

Early Dutch Antique Brass Bird Cage
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Early 19th century brass bird cage, circa 1810-1830 The bird cage has two bird seed containers that attaches to the cage.   
Category

Antique Early 19th Century Dutch Baroque Architectural Elements

Materials

Brass, Iron

Early Dutch Antique Brass Bird Cage
$1,000 Sale Price
39% Off
Mid-Century Swiss Automaton Brass Cage with Moving and Singing Bird
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring life to your house with this colorful vintage birdcage. Attributed to Reuge Music in Switzerland, and built circa 1960, the cage is cylindrical in shape and sits on a painted w...
Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Bird Cages

Materials

Brass

19th century French Napoleon III Singing Bird Brass Cage, 1870s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful Helvetic French Napoleon III period animated Singing Bird Brass wire cage dome with a repousse filigree decorated brass base has two birds in the cage which alternate singi...
Category

Antique 1870s French Napoleon III Decorative Boxes

Materials

Brass