Spotted Bird Waterpipe Whistle

Product Description

Also known as a "water pipe" or "water warble," these bird whistles are a classic novelty. Bird whistles were popular with 18th-century children and adults. To use, simply fill the whistle with water and then blow gently through it.

For best results, place the pipe to your mouth and form your lips and tongue to produce a "to-to-to" sound. If water squirts from the beak, pour a little out and experiment with tipping the bird slightly forward or backward. With practice and the right amount of water, you can cause the whistle to sound very much like a chirping or warbling bird. 2 1/2"L x 2"H  Will break if dropped; not suggested for children under 8.

Features

Hand-crafted bird whistle
Glazed china
Spotted brown and green
Fill with water and blow mouthpiece
Makes warbling/chirping sound
A WILLIAMSBURG exclusive! 

Product Care

Hand wash.

Inspiration

This bird whistle is adapted from examples in Colonial Williamsburg's antiques collections. Usually made of clay and decorated with slip or other glazes, such "water pipes" were popular novelties in the 18th century. As a young boy, Benjamin Franklin once spent all the money he had saved to buy a water whistle. He later stated that it brought him much joy and he never regretted the expense.