Museum Speelklok Collectie

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Actions	Details Remove from selection Add to selection Image(s) TitleSinging Bird Automaton Table Clock, 'Hummingbird Clock' Creator Blaise Bontems PlaceParis (France) Year ca. 1860 Object number0931 Object categorymechanical instruments with playing comb, timepieces with musical movements Object nametimepiece with playing comb, table clock DescriptionThis pendulum clock features an animated scene of with a tree with singing birds. The playing mechanism, mechanical motor and two scoop bellows for the bird sounds are located in the base of the clock. The scene is made of different materials. The ground is finished with real grasses, moss and wool to mimic natural vegetation. Real beetles are hidden here and there, and to liven things up even more, the rock is finished with glitter. Accompanying textsThe clock plays two melodies, a gallop and a waltz. Blaise Bontems was the founder of the firm Bontems - one of the leading Parisian automaton makers in the late nineteenth century, with a particular specialization in singing birds. During his youth, Bontems had learned how to taxidermy birds, and he would later claim that he was the first to give mechanically singing birds a truly natural voice. Dimensions geheel height: 70 cm geheel width: 50 cm geheel depth: 24 cm cilinder length: 6 cm cilinder diameter: 1.6 cm Keywordsprogrammadrager: cylinder programmadrager: programmaschijf geluidsbron: playing comb aandrijving: spring uurwerk ankergang Digital references

Image(s)

TitleSinging Bird Automaton Table Clock, 'Hummingbird Clock'

Creator Blaise Bontems

PlaceParis (France)

Year ca. 1860

Object number0931

Object categorymechanical instruments with playing comb, timepieces with musical movements

Object nametimepiece with playing comb, table clock

DescriptionThis pendulum clock features an animated scene of with a tree with singing birds. The playing mechanism, mechanical motor and two scoop bellows for the bird sounds are located in the base of the clock. The scene is made of different materials. The ground is finished with real grasses, moss and wool to mimic natural vegetation. Real beetles are hidden here and there, and to liven things up even more, the rock is finished with glitter.

Accompanying textsThe clock plays two melodies, a gallop and a waltz.

Blaise Bontems was the founder of the firm Bontems - one of the leading Parisian automaton makers in the late nineteenth century, with a particular specialization in singing birds. During his youth, Bontems had learned how to taxidermy birds, and he would later claim that he was the first to give mechanically singing birds a truly natural voice.

Dimensions

geheel height: 70 cm
geheel width: 50 cm
geheel depth: 24 cm
cilinder length: 6 cm
cilinder diameter: 1.6 cm

Keywordsprogrammadrager: cylinder
programmadrager: programmaschijf
geluidsbron: playing comb
aandrijving: spring
uurwerk ankergang

Digital references

Details