Arthur S. Lewis
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PORCELAIN PANELLED JARDINIERE WITH SINGING BIRD ( 1880 )
| Description: |
High quality singing bird automata by Bontems. The bird is naturalistically feathered. It is perched above a container with colourful flowers in full bloom. The square-shaped jardiniere is of fine quality having relief mouldings with both polished and mat surfaces. To the front is an attractive hand painted scene of a woman with a child on a blue background. The mechanism is operated by means of a lever. . When it is pushed to the left the bird sings whilst opening and closing its beak, moving its head from side-to-side and raising and lowering its tail continuously. When the lever is placed in the second position, the bird sings intermittently. The clockwork movement is wound by a key inserted in a hole in the side. As singing birds in cages were popular at the time Bontems manufactured very few birds in jardinieres. Consequently, the few he did make are quite rare. (See `Automata The Golden Age’ by Christian Bailly. Page 49). Note: Blaise Bontems was renowned for his mastery, both in the authenticity of his bird song and for his mechanical skill. His superb pieces were much admired when they were displayed in the 1878 Exhibition. Blaise Bontems – Born 1814 Died 1881 in France Succeeded by his son Charles Jules. |
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