In recent month's, I have written about red earthenware bird feeders made for bird cages - relatively, they are a rare object to find today. There is an example owned by Historic New England at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts that is part of the incredibly important Nina Fletcher Little Collection. The museum describes it as, "a small redware food dish with a short handle at the top with a hole for a dipping rod; there is a wider rough hewn bottom; an unglazed outside with a clear lead glazed inside, it's intended for use in a miner's canary cage." The museum says that the maker is unknown; however, a broad production date range of 1775 to 1850 is suggested.
Here is a link to that bird feeder.
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Bird Feeder Intended for a Bird Cage
Circa 1775-1850
Stands 2" Tall
Nina Fletcher Little Collection at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, MA
Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Boston, MA
The object that I purchased from my friend, Charles today, is a very-similar redware bird feeder; however, this bird feeder is still in its original context. The feeder came along with what I believe to be its original hand-made Victorian Period bird cage. It's remarkable to see this! The small cage has survived in wonderful condition despite its use as an everyday household object used by a pet. The only difference that I can see between this redware bird feeder - when compared to the example in Historic New England's Collection is that this feeder is glazed on the interior - and, the exterior.
Personally, I believe this bird cage and redware bird feeder were both made in New England in the 1800's; unfortunately, I don't have any specific information to pinpoint an area for production.
** Since writing this article yesterday, I have since learned that this kind of (canary) cage - and, bird feeder were often used by miners in the 1800's. Simply put, when the canary died, it was time for the miner to leave because the air quality was bad. According to Indiana collector, Lisa Buchanan Elifritz, "this idea served as inspiration for the song 'Canary in a Coalmine' by the Police from the late-1970's."
I assume that these kind of cages were used by miners all-over America in the nineteenth-century - pinpointing a maker is really difficult; however, I have seen a small number of these kind of redware feeders - and, many vary in glaze style even though most of the forms are similar. The variation in glaze could possibly distinguish multiple makers from a number regions throughout the country. I even own a redware feeder that was dug at a dump north of Concord, New Hampshire, which may suggest its use in a mine somewhere in the New Hampshire mountains. I'd like to know if this cage was hand-made by a miner - or, was it a generic product that most miners acquired from a store before they worked in a mine.
According to Massachusetts collector and dealer, Kris Casucci, "I can't pinpoint a particular area they come from; I've found them in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, Brimfield, Massachusetts, New England, etc. Sometimes they have stoneware feeders - other cages have redware or porcelain feeders. Sometimes the feeders are even missing. The most common appears to be stoneware feeders."
Personally, I believe this bird cage and redware bird feeder were both made in New England in the 1800's; unfortunately, I don't have any specific information to pinpoint an area for production.
** Since writing this article yesterday, I have since learned that this kind of (canary) cage - and, bird feeder were often used by miners in the 1800's. Simply put, when the canary died, it was time for the miner to leave because the air quality was bad. According to Indiana collector, Lisa Buchanan Elifritz, "this idea served as inspiration for the song 'Canary in a Coalmine' by the Police from the late-1970's."
I assume that these kind of cages were used by miners all-over America in the nineteenth-century - pinpointing a maker is really difficult; however, I have seen a small number of these kind of redware feeders - and, many vary in glaze style even though most of the forms are similar. The variation in glaze could possibly distinguish multiple makers from a number regions throughout the country. I even own a redware feeder that was dug at a dump north of Concord, New Hampshire, which may suggest its use in a mine somewhere in the New Hampshire mountains. I'd like to know if this cage was hand-made by a miner - or, was it a generic product that most miners acquired from a store before they worked in a mine.
According to Massachusetts collector and dealer, Kris Casucci, "I can't pinpoint a particular area they come from; I've found them in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, Brimfield, Massachusetts, New England, etc. Sometimes they have stoneware feeders - other cages have redware or porcelain feeders. Sometimes the feeders are even missing. The most common appears to be stoneware feeders."
Small 19th Century Hand-Made Bird Cage with Original Red Earthenware Bird Feeder
The Cage was Likely Used by a Miner with a Canary in the 1800's
The Cage was Likely Used by a Miner with a Canary in the 1800's
Cage Measures 5 7/8" (H) by 6 1/2" (W)
Likely Dates from the Victorian Period
Discovered Today by a Friend at a Flea Market in Essex County, MA
The Feeder is Similar to an Example Owned by Historic New England
The Similar Example is Part of the Nine Fletcher Little Collection at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, MA
Another View of the Bird Cage
Another View of the Bird Cage
Another View of the Bird Cage
Another View of the Bird Cage
A Good View of the Bird Feeder Inside the Bird Cage
Stands Approximately 2 1/4" Tall
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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