Bird Cage
No example of this needle case has been found to date and it is unknown whether it was actually produced. If you have this needle
case in your possession or know of someone who has it, please contact us so that photographs of it can be
obtained and added to the this website.
Design Representation
Design Details
Needle Case Type: |
Figural |
Patent/Registered to: |
Coggins & Baxter - Birmingham |
Patent/Design Representation #: |
Ornamental Class 1: Metal: #293201 (Provisional Design #1217 registered December 15, 1874) |
Patent/Design Registration Date: |
August 3, 1875 |
Location of Patent/Design Registration: |
The National Archives (TNA) - Kew, UK |
Reference #:
|
TNA Representation - BT 43/38/293201
TNA Register - BT 44/3/293201 |
Dimensions: |
Unknown |
Material: |
Unknown |
Name Variations: |
Unknown |
Other Variations: |
Unknown |
Facts
Today there are approximately ten million different bird species in the world and each has distinct characteristics that sets it apart from
the others. Many birds are migratory by nature and travel from one area to another depending upon the season of the year and
climate. The cardinal is only found in the Americas. The northern variety pictured here was named by early American colonists
because the male bird's red crest reminded them of a Catholic cardinal’s headgear.
History
Birds were originally categorized in 1676 by two Englishmen educated at Cambridge. Their book is considered the beginning of
scientific ornithology in Europe. By the Victorian era it had become fashionable in England to collect and display natural curiosities such
as different varieties of birds. In some cases, a taxidermist would arrange a small diorama with an assortment of birds that one could
display in their home. The famous English naturalist Charles Darwin collected over 400 bird specimens during his 5 year world travels
on the Beagle from 1831-1836. It was during this journey that Darwin began to wonder about the variety of birds and their distribution
which eventually lead to his theory of evolution published in 1859. The city of Darwin in northern Australia was named after
him. Greeting cards and drawings of birds similar to the one illustrated below became popular in the 1870’s with the advent of
chromolithography which made it possible to mass produce them in color.
Miscellaneous
Bird keeping was very popular during the Victorian era and decorative cages like the one shown below were all the rage. At one point
the bird cage was so popular it was considered a trendy wedding gift. This lead to the creation of a fancy gilded cage with a mechanical
bird that flapped its wings, hopped about and/or sang a song.
