ANTIQUE MASSIVE BONTEMS SINGING BIRD CAGE AUTOMATON MUSIC BOX (WATCH VIDEO)

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ANTIQUE MASSIVE BONTEMS SINGING BIRD CAGE AUTOMATON MUSIC BOX (WATCH VIDEO):
$4950.00

VERY RARE TO FIND A 100% ORIGINAL ANTIQUE EXAMPLE. THIS IS THE MASSIVE TWO FOOT TALL MODEL IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND WAS CRAFTED IN THE LATE 1800\'s.

I have acquired, restored and sold probably fifteen to twenty of this model Bontems singing bird cage and this is the first one I have seen that is 100% original and in good enough cosmetic condition to conserve instead of restore. Conserving means keeping the piece original and diligently cleaning the piece instead of re-feathering the birds, replacing the fabric cage floor, foliage, etc. This is a rare find. Look at the beautiful iridescent violet/purple feathers on the larger bird.

I just serviced the mechanical movement and the birds sing with full voice, hitting all of the wonderful oscillating bird song notes and animate perfectly. The bird song is incredibly lifelike on the large scale models. The movement has clearly been properly maintained/serviced throughout the past 120 years and the wooden bellows would have been recovered with leather at some point in time. On a full wind, this will play for approximately two minutes, thirty seconds.

The original bird feathers still retain vibrant color and iridescent effects. These are true taxidermy birds (with real bird beaks and legs/feet) that are wrapped around a brass bird exoskeleton. This cage measures 22 inches tall including the ring, 18 inches otherwise and has a diameter of 11 inches. I included a photo with a normal size antique singing bird cage for scaling purposes; the normal size bird cage is not for sale/part of this listing.

I made two videos, one showing the finished piece and another showing the internal mechanics. In summary, this is a wonderful example and rare 100% original condition. I did replace the three rubber cushions on the wood base bottom as the originals were dried out and no longer provided protection for whatever this cage will rest on - I will include the originals in a small bag.

HEAR IT PLAY (two videos - one of the finished automaton and a second showing how the internal mechanics work)

PLEASEEXPLORE MY OTHER LISTINGS. IONLY SELL MECHANICAL MUSIC (SINGING BIRD BOXES, SINGING BIRD CAGES & MUSIC BOXES), CLOCKS & WATCHES SO YOUCAN HAVE COMFORT THAT I KNOW MY PRODUCT AND UNDERSTAND WHAT I AM SELLING.

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - PLEASE READ MY SELLING response COMMENTS

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Troy Duncan, CPA, retired