Tin plate wind-up toy bird, early 20th century

Wind-up tin toys started being mass produced in the late 19th century and remained the toy of choice until the early 1960s, when cheap lithium batteries became widely available. Producers in Europe and Japan produced a huge variety of shapes and different movements from futuristic robots, to charming animals like this hand-painted delicate bird, possibly a sparrow.

In good working condition, the clockwork mechanism powers a pecking and jumping motion.

9 cm high

Fabric swatch: La Valliere in bleu/ocre by Braquenié