SOLD Bontems Singing Bird Cage Automaton

A Bontems  bird cage automaton containing two singing and moving birds, circa 1880, in full working order. Brass sculpted base and cage with handle winder.

Blaise Bontems (1814 - 1881) was widely recognised as the foremost maker and specialist in singing birds for over  a century.  In 1848 he opened a shop in Paris and showed at The Great Exhibition in 1851 in London where he received international renown and attracted the admiration of Queen Victoria herself.  Upon his death, his son Charles Jules and grandson Lucien Bontems continued the family business.