Bird automatons can take the form of birds in cages, clocks and even very tiny small birds in boxes. Below are some examples of bird automatons, including a silver-gilt and enamel timepiece with alarm and a French musical figure playing a fiddle or violin with a singing bird.
Below are some examples and price guides of antique bird automatons including a German singing bird box and a singing bird in a gilt bronze cage
A Singing Bird Box, probably German, early 20th century,
the going barrel movement in simulated tortoiseshell case with key compartment at the rear, operating slide at the front and oval silvered brass lid open-top opening to feathered singing bird automaton with swivel movement and moving wings and beak, in original leather covered case with repair invoices,
3 3/4in (9.5cm) wide
Sold for £2,040 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2022
A SINGING BIRD AUTOMATON
ALMOST CERTAINLY BY BONTEMS, CIRCA 1900
The bird with applied stained peacock feathers, with moving head, on a swing, under brass cage, on giltwood base, going barrel-movement and bellows
The cage: 19 in. (48 cm.) high; 91⁄2 in. (24 cm.) wide; 91⁄2 in. (24 cm.) deep
Sold for GBP 1,125 at Christie’s in 2020
Continental Automaton Singing Bird in Gilt-Metal Cage
On a giltwood stand. Height overall 12 inches, width 8 1/2 inches, depth 6 1/2 inches.
Sold for $535 (includes buyer’s premium) at Doyle in 2021
Small singing bird automaton, Germany, 20th century. Heavy, rectangular brass case with oval spring lid, which is triggered by a switch on the front. A small red bird emerges from the hole and sings and dances. After a small interval, the little bird disappears just as abruptly as it appeared. The outside of the body with green and red semi-transparent enamel over relief decoration, 4,3 x 10,5 x 6,7 cm.
Sold for €2,400 at Historia | Bolland & Marotz in 2022
A gilt-bronze double jumping and singing bird musical automaton with waterfall and timepiece in the manner of Jaquet-Droz and Leschot, Swiss, circa 1800
the octagonal cage with finely pierced and engraved cagework and enclosing two painted metal birds with automaton beaks, wings and tails and jumping between branches, to the rear is a revolving glass rod automaton simulating water cascading from a lion’s mouth, the base of the cage containing the automaton movement with chain fusee, a complex series of cams controlling the movement of the birds and their singing.
Sold for 100,800 GBP at Sotheby’s in 2020
