A Wonderful Early 20thC French Architectural Bird Cage

Origin: French
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900-1930
Base Diameter: 12 inches
Overall Height: 39.5 inches (with chain) or 24 inches the cage

The dome top tin and wire cage having a turned oak finial and original hanging chain with perch and double feeding cups to the interior and sliding trapdoor with removable circular base survives from the first quarter of the twentieth century.

In good original condition, the cage has no replacement parts nor has it been restored or cleaned in any way. There is one small hairline crack to the base but is neither noticeable nor problematic. The oak is tactile and has a good colour.

Birdcages such as this were often built to represent monumental buildings, such as the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower or a Georgian mansion. At one point, parrots were only housed in these fanciful cages to roost. Ornamented and structurally lavish cages became popular among the noble classes in Europe around the 14th century. Experts and collectors agree that of these early cages, the most talented artisans were the French and the Dutch. In France, a guild of cage makers was licensed and chartered by royalty to fabricate cages generally made of iron or brass wire. These guilds of artisans made cages specifically for male and female songbirds. At the same time, in other areas of the world, cages were being built out of bamboo, wicker, wood, rattan and reed.

Hugely decorative, adding gothic French charm to any interior or exterior, try it hung from loft spaces or slung from oak beams. Twit-twoo.