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Exhibit of the Month 6 / 2016
Mechanical Birds
The idea of a mechanical singing bird is very old, and even the sage Confucius mentioned the existence of a mechanical bird in China in 500 BC.
Over time, this idea passed through several empires until it settled in Europe, where it was perfected. The delicate mechanics of the feathered creatures resembling clockwork led to the creation of the first singing bird automata in the land of clocks, namely Switzerland, in the mid-18th century in the workshop of Pierre Jaquet-Droz (1721-1788).
This trend then developed mainly in the French cantons and France itself, from where it spread to German-speaking countries during the 19th century. Among the most significant manufacturers were C.K. Lamy & Co, Emilian Wehrle, Karl Griesbaum, Eschle, and Mechanische Musikwerke Manufaktur GmbH.
Singing birds were initially made using preparations from real birds with colored feathers, and only with the development of industry were they made from substitutes as faithful copies of their prototypes.
The collection item of the Regional Museum in Most represents a typical product from the second half of the 19th century with an additionally made base.
The delicate mechanics allow all three birds not only to sing but also to introduce various movements into the performance. Despite all the challenges, it has been possible to preserve the mentioned specimen in full functionality to this day.