A gilt-bronze double jumping and singing bird musical automaton with waterfall and timepiece in the manner of Jaquet-Droz and Leschot, Swiss, circa 1800

A gilt-bronze double jumping and singing bird musical automaton with waterfall and timepiece in the manner of Jaquet-Droz and Leschot, Swiss, circa 1800

the octagonal cage with finely pierced and engraved cagework and enclosing two painted metal birds with automaton beaks, wings and tails and jumping between branches, to the rear is a revolving glass rod automaton simulating water cascading from a lion's mouth, the base of the cage containing the automaton movement with chain fusee, a complex series of cams controlling the movement of the birds and their singing, the integral plinth with 1¾-inch enamel dial with regulation sector, the timepiece movement with chain fusee and verge escapement with plain three-arm balance, triggering a further two-tune musical movement with 2¼-inch cylinder and steel comb signed H Capt, the whole with stylised floral mounts, the corners with trophy mounts and the ends with roundels depicting the arts, on paw feet

38.5cm. 15¼in. high