Rare Ormolu Singing Bird Automaton Clock by Blaise Bontems, c. 1

With two-train clock movement by S. Martie et Cie, no. 1829, with "bird" and "Médaille de Bronze" stamps, striking hours and halves on bell, 3 3/4-inch (9 cm) porcelain dial with Roman numerals, ormolu case with Sevres-type porcelain mounts decorated with floral sprays and garlands in turquoise-blue borders, the glazed central section housing automaton bird with iridescent plumage, swiveling perch, articulated wings, metal beak and tail in wild enclosure of flowers and ferns, on carved giltwood base with going-barrel movement, bellows and whistle, bird approx. 1 ½ in. (3 cm), overall ht. 27 in. x wd. of base 23 ½ in. (69 x 60 cm), overall good, working condition, one metal mounting split, small chip on reverse of left porcelain column, with 11 ¼ in. (29 cm) key. - Note: Gilt-bronze singing bird clocks decorated with porcelain panels appeared in the upper price bracket of the Bontems’ catalog. - Literature: Bailly, "Flights of Fancy, Mechanical Singing Birds", pp. 297, 328. - The flamboyant sculptural case, featuring putti sporting grapes, goblet and panpipes beneath cascading cornucopia, is the only example of its type that we have seen to date. The themes of music, revelry and abundance are continued in the porcelain panels of the lower section, which depict two urns and a putto piper. The automaton is independent of the clock movement. The bird turns from side to side and flutters its wings and tail (beak movement inactive) as it sings. The case is in original condition, with a pleasing patina that would benefit from light cleaning. A rare and remarkable automaton clock.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)