Oct 21 2008
Wire for Heads or Tails
This weeks topic at Heads or Tails is “Wire”. Bird on a wire popped into my head and I started thinking about birdcages. Who makes birdcages?
My Internet search led me to discover that many bird cages are made in Thailand. They are not the typical wire ones but I thought it was a wonderful form of art. Some bird fanciers are happy to pay high prices for fine cages, as they consider making birdcages to be an art, especially old cages with fine handiwork, such as the specialised “Sa-teng” shape from gala and “Ko-yi” form Pattani. The older are rarer they are, the more expensive they get.
The area around Community 5 in Nong Jork has many people making beautiful birdcages that are very popular with the dove fanciers, whose tastes determine the shape and size of the cages. For instance, a classic Sa-teng or Ko-yi cage might start at 3,000 Baht and go up to as much as 50,000 Baht.
Material: Choice of material is characteristic of this kind of birdcage, such as rattan, ivory and talipot tree stem, and wood from the woody climber Dalbergia for the bars.
Hook: Cast in metal and carved, and it is popular to carve in shapes of auspicious animals such as swans and dragons. Roof: Made from wood or ivory sawed and turned on a lathe. Some?times it is carved with intricate patterns, and sometimes ivory is also used to make the patch.
Bars: Made from the horns of an albino buffalo which are translucent, shiny, and extremely rare, or wood is used such as Plerocapus or Dalbergia.
12 Responses to “Wire for Heads or Tails”
I am fascinated with the art that goes into bird cages. Good job.
Skittless last blog post..Just A Quickie
Oh! Too cool! I love that bird cage.
Shannon H.s last blog post..BlogBlast For Peace Is Coming!
That last one that you posted the pic of is quite lovely
Great post for the theme this week 
Sues last blog post..Wordless Wednesday
The bottom cage really cute. Yes, and cages are not cheap either!
Lisas last blog post..Keeping My Girls Safe!
How do they use ivory in making birdcages? I’m picturing a lot of wasted material, as ivory isn’t flexible, so it would have to be carved into shape. Yes?
Anyway, happy HoT!
-smarmoofus
smarmoofuss last blog post..Heads or Tails: Heads – Wire
Almost an artform rather than a product. Interesting post.
Anthony Norths last blog post..TONY ON PARANOIA, TT #27 & MORE
What a fun take on this week’s theme. I enjoyed learning about bird cages from your HoTs post this afternoon so thanks for sharing. I appreciate you dropping by mine at Small Reflections earlier.
Hugs and blessings,
storytellers last blog post..Heads or Tails #28 and Ruby Tuesday #9
Amazing. I didn’t think of bird cages. And your post is full of fun information! Great job!
Great take on the prompt! Love the photos. Thanks for stopping by.
forgetfulones last blog post..CLR Tackle
they look pretty cool. this reminds me of the scene in ‘harriet the spy’, where she’s spying on the man who makes bird cages and has a lot of cats…
Annabels last blog post..McLibel
Third time I have tried to leave a comment I seemed to around the world anyway I think this will work. They are lovely cages but such a shame to put birds in them. I suppose if a bird has its wings clipped from birth it doesn’t know what it is missing. Thanks for coming over to my place
That is really a cool bird cage! I love the top design and color.