Petite French Wood And Iron Birdcage W/ Ceramic Cardinal Bird Circa 1900 - 22"

With a gentle, poetic presence, this late 19th-century birdcage combines a warm wooden base with a domed wirework top crowned by a turned finial. The aged metal bars have softened to a quiet gray, and small colored beads punctuate the perches with subtle touches of color. Several textured glass panels survive along the lower section, catching the light softly and adding to the cage’s decorative charm. At the center sits a lively polychrome earthenware cardinal perched among leaves, offering a whimsical focal point. The cage includes its original sliding wooden base for easy cleaning. Condition is timeworn and appealing, with oxidation to the wires, light bends, and small nicks and surface wear to the wood, all consistent with age and contributing to its mellow patina.

Likely French, circa 1880–1900, this cage reflects a period when handcrafted birdcages were both functional objects and ornamental accents in parlors, garden rooms, and conservatories across Europe. Regional makers often added ceramic birds to stand in for real songbirds, turning the cages into small sculptural tableaux. Petite in scale and rich with character, it styles beautifully on a console or mantel beside botanical prints and stacked books, or in a sunroom where its texture and whimsy enhance a curated vignette.