One of the most unusual, unique and expensive dolls in the world goes by the name of 'L'Oiseleur' - 'The Birdman'

If I was born in Switzerland, I would not miss the opportunity to learn from the amazing person, doll and watchmaker Christian Bayona... I am delighted with people who are ready to spend many years of their lives and whole fortunes for the realization of their childhood ideas and colorful fantasies.

In his early youth, Christian was amazed by the mechanical automatic dolls of the Swiss family. Pierre Jaquet-Drozcreated by in the distant 18th century. By the way, the dolls work great to this day. Since then, the young master was haunted by the thought of creating his own robot doll.

In one interview, Christian admitted that if he knew how much effort it would take to create the "Birdman", then it is not known whether he would undertake such work.

And so some statistics: Two years of development and drawings, three years of work by the master himself and fifteen assistants, selling his own antique furniture and paintings to buy the necessary materials and mechanisms ...

As a result of many years of efforts, searches and mistakes, the most expensive mechanical doll in the world was born."L'Oiseleur" - "The Birdman", existing in a single copy, the price of which, today, is 7,000,000 $.

"L'Oiseleur" was created in full accordance with the traditions of making automatic dolls with a watch mechanism, exactly repeating the masterpieces of the 18th-19th centuries.

The figure of "The Birdman" is assembled from 2464 parts: the base - 724 parts; the birds - 62 parts each, not counting the feathers and eyes; the young man himself - 1616 parts. Weighing 55kg and standing 1.25m tall, L'Oiseleur stands on a platform of semi-precious jade and mother-of-pearl, richly decorated in gold.

The porcelain face of a young man, with movable eyes, is painted by hand in a style appropriate to the era. The clothes are made of silk, satin and velvet, all the stitches are made by hand. On the belt there is a sword and a velvet handbag.

What can our beautiful red-haired young man do? He plays an amazing flute. The "Birdman" holds the instrument to his lips as his fingers move as if he were playing. Two beautiful melodies are played one after the other, each for 28 seconds: "Marching" by Georges Bizet and the 18th century melody "For Learning to Sing Canaries". The charming sounds of the melodies make the birds on the young man's left hand move their heads. When the music stops, the birds pick up the melody, flap their wings, twirl and sing, repeating the previously played motifs. As they play the flute, the "Birdman" bows slightly to his audience, and the movements of his mouth and eyelids look very realistic.

This entire complex mechanism is wound up with one light movement of the golden key. An amazing sight!

Mechanical "L'Oiseleur" is not just a doll, it is a real work of art. It combines modern high technology and painstaking work of the great watchmakers of the past.

Although "L'Oiseleur" is not an antique doll, the "Birdman" is worth more than all the most expensive dolls in the world.

Mocking his efforts, Christian Bayona admitted that if such a doll is cast entirely from gold, it will come out several times cheaper.

Only once, to participate in the exhibition, "L'Oiseleur" left his home.

You can see and, if you wish, purchase a luxurious mechanical doll in the workshop of its creator, in Switzerland.

Tatyana Kalinina Instagram @tatakalinyshka