Helvetic French Mechanical Singing Bird

Item Details

A Helvetic French mechanical singing bird. This item features a bird shaped automaton with authentic tail feathers and feet attached to a brass tone metal body that sits on top of a perch inside of a brass tone metal cage. The bars of the cage are made of a twisted wire with a door in the side and connect at the top to a round knob and a hoop handle. Inside the base of the cage is a tan piece of cloth on top of the tall round base. The outside of the base is decorated in a scrolling foliate motif and features a turn key to wind up the bird. Once the bird is wound up it flaps its tail and moves its head while making singing and making other bird sounds. The base of this piece features a plaque marked ‘Helvetic. I&M, Corp. 366 Fifth Avenue New York-Paris’ and is stamped ‘Made In France’. Also featured is a small bar attached to the base to turn the bird on or off after being wound.

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Condition

- tested and works; faint marks and wear to finish throughout; ome bending of the metal; discoloration; metal door is loose; feathers are missing except on tail.

Dimensions

Item #

17CHI059-067