Chinese Cast Metal Bird Figure

A Chinese cast metal bird figure, in a naturalistic form and mounted on a branch-like base designed for wall display.The metal has a dark, uneven patina, with fine texture through the feathers and the bark-like base. The underside of the base carries a four-character mark reading 乾隆年制 (Qianlong nian zhi, "made in the reign of Qianlong"). This is a reign mark used very commonly on Chinese metalware as a mark of quality and style, including on later pieces, so it is not on its own evidence of the piece's actual age.