Bellows have been a source of inspiration in the making of mechanical toys for centuries. Nineteenth century German trade books show illustrations of toys using air to produce sound or movement. This bird is a lithographed tin plate example from China, made for the local market. Between the body and the wings of the bird is a tube of folded paper which acts as a bellows. The toy is hand held and operated by squeezing a loop of metal which extends from the tail and curves round to attach to bars under the wings. As the loop is squeezed the wings open and extend the paper bellows. When released, the wings close and the bellows make a sound.
The bird is lithographed tinplate and it is blue with red black, pink, yellow, green and white markings. The underside of the wings is blue and attached between the body and the wings is one tube of folded greased paper which adds as a bellows. The toy is hand held and operated by squeezing a loop of metal which extends from the tail and curves round to attach to bars under the wings. As the loop is squeezed the wings open and extend the paper bellows. When released, the wings close and the bellows make a sound.
Dimensions
Height: 4.5in
Production type
Mass produced
Brief description
Mechanical bird made in China in the 1970s
Displayed at the Young V&A Collection and product description above attributed to the V&A https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O36946/mechanical-bird-unknown/