Ormolu Bird Cage Automation - Taxidermy Singing Bird

This is mechanical singing bird cage or automaton in style made famous by French automaton maker Bontems. It was known for very realistic sound, and this piece is a perfect example of skill of days go by.  The bird when wound, would move and sing in enchanting song.  His little head would turn and his tails raise and lower. The cage is majestic brass and features nice ornamentation at the base, intermittent twisted bars and a decorated ring. The bottom of the cage has a lining and vine foliage winding up the perch. Everything is original.The Automata has an exquisite dome with excellent clarity and perfection. This lovely hard to find size glass dome is in excellent original condition.Details:When wound with the key the large and beautifully feathered plumaged the large   taxidermy bird perched on a branch would begin to sing, with turning head, opening and closing beak and bobbing tail feathers, to the slight-paused continuous birdsong. The bird is red in color.  He is a beautiful bir