The Hummingbird Clock temporarily moves to the Mauritshuis

Carel Fabritius’s ‘The Goldfinch’ from 1654 and British historian Simon Schama bring birds from around the world to this exhibition. The ‘Hummingbird Clock’ is on display alongside art by Leonardo Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Pablo Picasso and contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin and Iris van Herpen.

The clock contains music, the sound of birds and a moving scene of flying birds, a waterfall and a sailing ship. It is a favourite during the musical tours in Museum Speelklok. As a special exception, the ‘Hummingbird Clock’ can be admired outside the museum.

Parisian luxury for international customers

The ‘Hummingbird Clock’ from around 1870 is technically very ingenious and reflects the Parisian spirit of the second half of the nineteenth century. At that time, the wealthy bourgeoisie had a penchant for luxury and bringing nature into their homes. Blaise Bontems (1814-1893), an automaton maker in France, created the ‘Hummingbird Clock’. From an early age, he mastered the art of taxidermy, particularly with birds. He would visit the forests of Fontainebleau near Paris to listen to bird sounds and learn how to reproduce them. He kept improving the mechanics until he was satisfied with the lifelike sound.

Bontems participated in international exhibitions, establishing his name and expanding his clientele to high society in England, Canada, India and China.

Musical scene of flying birds and flowing water

Under the glass bell jar resting on a gilded wooden base, a scene depicting a tree, birds, a waterfall and a sailing ship can be seen. When the clock is switched on, music from a music box plays, birdsong can be heard and the landscape comes to life. Thanks to a virtually invisible mechanism with metal wires, the hummingbirds enchant the viewer as they hop from one branch to another. The reflection of light from a rotating crystal rod simulates flowing water. The same gear mechanism that moves this also causes the ship to rock up and down. On the banks, two more birds can be seen picking up food and drinking water. A playing comb and small bellows produce the music and sounds of the ‘Hummingbird Clock’.

The BIRDS exhibition is on display at the Mauritshuis in The Hague from 12 February to 7 June. The workings of the ‘Hummingbird Clock’ can be seen in an accompanying video. After the exhibition, the clock will return to the Museum Speelklok in Utrecht. Click here for more information about the Museum Speelklok collection.

‘Hummingbird clock’, c. 1870
Pendulum clock with cylinder mechanism and automata
Blaise Bontems
Dimensions: height: 70 cm / width: 50 cm / depth: 24 cm