Automaton Singing Bird Jardinière by Blaise Bontems, c. 1890

Bird with iridescent blue, green and black plumage flecked with golden highlights, articulated head, beak and tail controlled by going-barrel movement with bellows and whistle for birdsong, perched in a bowery of silk flowers and blossoms in Sèvres-type porcelain jardinière decorated with painted roundel of a cavalier reading to his lady in an Arcadian landscape, the reverse decorated with spray of flowers, with gilt borders, scroll feet and garland handles, height 19 ½ in. (49 cm), under antique glass dome, total height 24 in. (61 cm), good strong birdsong, beak movement not active, tiny chips around the winding hole, otherwise in excellent condition. With size 16 key. - Literature: Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age", p. 48; Auction Team Breker, 26 May 2012, Lot 720, for a similar automaton. - A luxurious exhibition piece by Bontems.

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)