Singing Bird Mantel Clock

A very similar clock was in the collection of the Chinese Imperial Court and is now in the Palace Museum, Beijing.

Beautiful gilt-bronze clock houses a realistic automaton singing bird. The bird - which sings, turns its head and shakes its tail each hour - resides in a realistic diorama with a painted background and miniature rocks and trees. Visible escapement is installed on the dial. The top of the drum case is adorned with ormolu sculpture and two white doves.

This clock is attributed to the Bontems, a Parisian family who specialized in the design and manufacture of singing bird automata. The numbered movement is signed “H&F, Paris, 1876.” These initials probably belong to the retailer that initially sold this piece.