Antique Orig. Victorian Otto Lindemann Brass Birdcage & Gallery Guard RARE c1890 For Sale

Rare OL & Co. fancy brass birdcage is all original and dates to c.1890 and includes its original brass gallery guard and cuttle bone! Brass tray is 10 x 13”, and the cage stands 12” tall to the finial. Made of brass sheet and brass spring wire, all original patina except for the tray which had to be cleaned to arrest some serious corrosion. Brass reticulated gallery guard is constructed of sliding brass panels to adjust to various cage widths, and serves a dual purpose: with the birdcage suspended and the guard in place it will definitely deflect seeds and debris, but it will cover the bird feeder openings so adjustments must’ve made to feed the birds while in this configuration. But with the birdcage on a flat surface, the gallery guard was used as a base for the cage to give it a more stately and elegant appearance. It shows “Patented Aug 24, 1888”. The cuttlebone is another rarity; as off-putting as it may seem at first, reverse reads: “Combined Cuttle and Holder Patented Nov. 8, 1881” (Patented by The Bird Food Company aka. Philadelphia Bird Food Company for the clamp to hold the cuttle to the cage). And an advertisement goes on to read: “Every owner of a canary should get BIRD MANNA. It is made by the canary breeders of the Hartz Mountains in Germany and is used to keep their birds in constant health and song and to cure all diseases. Sold by all druggists or will be sent by mail on receipt of 15c. Bird Food Company, Phila. PA”. (Missing text supplied by The Bird Food Company’s Book of Cage Birds, 1883). One of a kind, true Victorian brass birdcage by Otto Lindemann. Please see photos for best description!