Bontems

• the vase in painted blue Sèvres-style, polychrome painting of a lady and a gentleman in a love garden, polychrome floral painting to the back, the base and handles gilt, the vase with an associated faux silk floral arrangement • the feathered singing bird sits atop the arrangement on a perch, when activated its head swivels, flaps its tail and moves its beak, the movement contained within the vase

The present lot contains endangered species which is subject to United States Fish & Wildlife Services CITES restrictions upon international export. The time frame for shipment outside the United States is approximately 6-8 months. Overall in good condition. The porcelain vase with no large chips or cracks. Loss of painting to the edges of the feet and the handles. Some loss of paint to the extremes of the rounded base and rounded top. Silk flowers modern replacements with some fraying. Bird in good condition with intact wings and tail, feet, and beak slightly broken at the tip to the top. Bird functions correctly. Accompanied by 1 winding key.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

The present lot is an impressive and large Jardinière singing bird made by the celebrated maker Blaise Bontems. Bontems (1814-1893) began his career while apprenticing for a clockmaker and decided to specialize in singing birds after being disappointed in the 'unnatural' quality of the whistle of a client’s bird box. It is said that he spent time in a forest to study the nightingale's song and as a result, he modified the box’s movement to closely mimic the bird's song.

One observer at the 1878 Parisian exhibition recollected, "There is not one visitor who doesn't stop to listen to the chirping of Monsieur Bontem's birds. These feathered musicians appear to be alive... I do not believe anyone has ever imitated nature quite as successfully." Years later, the artisan's work was greatly admired throughout Europe and America.  Although he was most famous for the ability to produce realistic songs of canaries, finches, nightingales and blackbirds, the firm also received praise for unique automatons ranging from monkeys to organ players. 

For further reading on Blaise Bontems and mechanical singing birds, see Bailly, C. & Bailly, S., Flights of Fancy: Mechanical Singing Birds, pp. 309-18 and Nocks, L., The Robot: The Story of Technology, pp. 42-3.