The china bird

An original fiction passage set in the nineteenth century.

Helen found the china bird behind the books. Its beak was missing, and somebody had painted the broken edge the same yellow as the remaining wing. She remembered her mother placing it on the nursery shelf. The imperfect little object opened a room she had not entered for years. She held it while the solicitor discussed the sale of the house, hearing almost none of what he said.

Identify the phrase which suggests that the bird brings back childhood memories.