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Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Posted by balego (My Page) on Fri, Sep 25, 09 at 12:25
| I bought a pair these birds that were discribed as brass. They are quite heavy, weighing about 6lbs each, and measuring 18 inches from beak to tip of tail. The finish almost looks painted, so I thought maybe they were cast iron, but I did try some brass polish on a small area and found that it will come to a real shine on the raised parts of the detail, which you might be able to see on the back of the tail. There is a marking 'BP' in a diamond shape on the underside. I have no idea if they are old or not, or if they are brass or not. Would anyone know anything about items such as these?
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Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| If it's cast iron a magnet will stick to it. Maybe BP stands for Brass Plate. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| Thanks, antique silver for replying. I just tryed a strong magnet, and it does not stick. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Not brass plated with all that detail.
Don't be going and rubbing on them....I suspect that finish is there on pourpose.
They are simply "brass birds" very very nice pieces.....they look like perhaps they are Asian? or perhaps Indian?
The BP surely is a maker's mark But I don't know what maker.
They are cast....
See if a magnate sticks...but I'll bet it won't.
And let's see a picture fo the bottom.
Linda c |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Thankyou, Linda. They are nice, aren't they? I got them for $8 for the pair. I saw them on Craigslist and rather liked them, but didn't go to see them in person due to the driving distance. The seller met my DH in town to bring them to him, and I was quite surprised at how nice they were once I saw them in person. Then I wondered if they were old, as the seller said they were found the cottage he purchased.
A magnet doesn't stick. There is just as much detail on the bottom as on top, which you can see in the following photos. The BP mark is located on the bottom, right before where the body joins the tail. 
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RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Well, they are fighting cocks....game cocks....and appear to be cast in pieces....the legs appear to be attached...is the tail part also separate?
They appear to be vermeil..? Gilt coated brass?
Whatever....don't rub on them!! No polishing just dusting.
Get the google thing going with terms like "cast brass birds....cast brass game cocks...cast roosters....vermeil birds....and other creative terms...look first in Images and see if you can find anything that looks similar.
Linda C |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| Seems to be all one piece, Linda, other than on one of the legs on one of them, there is an indent right where the feathering begins. I cannot see that the tail was separate, the indent around that area seems to be part of the feather detail. I will do a search and see if I come up with anything. Thanks! |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| Look a lot like pheasants, perhaps golden pheasants which are usually raised in this country not out in the wild. So. Dak. has the ring-necked pheasant (also known as Chinese ring -necked pheasant )as the male has a white ring around it's neck. I just went & looked at the So. Dak. bird I have on my wall & it does have a little Stuff behind it's head don't know what it is called. My dad raised the Golden ones for a while & all I remember was they were stunning & had some red on them on upper chest or neck. I think he gave my bro. 1 he had in the house. (Dad was a very good taxidermist) Don't see them as fighting birds tho!! |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| I found these on Ebay, which are very similar and are listed as Sadek, so I searched online I found the following at distinctive-decor.com: "Andrea by Sadek Dinnerware, Porcelain Figurines & Home Decor
Charles Sadek Imports is a family-owned and operated company that was founded in 1936 by Norman and Charles Sadek. The company brand is named after Charles Sadek's daughter, Andrea. Andrea by Sadek has grown over the years and now offers over 3,000 high quality and fairly-priced items each year, not limited to fine porcelain figurines, gifts, furniture, dinnerware, tea sets and home decor. Every year Andrea by Sadek releases hundreds of new items and you will always be able to find them at Distinctive Decor. While you will find a small selection of Sadek products at large department stores and selected specialty shops, we are the largest independent dealer of Andrea by Sadek products in the United States and offer every item on our website that Charles Sadek Imports produces. We have a close partnership with Sadek. We are proud of and grateful for this trusted relationship because Andrea by Sadek values customer service as much as we do. Our relationship with Sadek enhances our product offerings and allows our customers to reap the benefits stemming from it." Jill |
Here is a link that might be useful: Ebay Sadek Birds
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Sunnyca, they are a lot like pheasants, although do pheasants have a crest on their heads? I wonder if these are fashioned after a real bird, which might indicate they would be from. Maybe India or Asia, like Like Linda mentioned. The only birds I found similar in my search show one pair of brass, and one silver plate. Those two pairs are lovely!
http://www.dargate.com/cat/246_auction/246_images/2484.jpg http://www.mapesauction.com/images/pastauctionsimages/Feb%20Live%20Auction%2006/AFEB.LIVEAUCTION1s/27_1.jpg |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| It's a male Golden Pheasant. http://www.hugform.com/klassiskar%20laxaflugur/Paul%20Schmookler/Golden%20Pheasant.jpg If a magnet doesn't stick, it's brass, bronze or "pot metal". Check the spots on the feet and tail where it touches when standing. If it's worn away to a grey color, that's "pot metal". They are very pretty. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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They are fighting cocks...roosters. Look at the spurs on the legs.
It was and seems to still be a thing to have pictures, figures, decorations on mugs and cups of pairs of fighting cocks.
But I have no idea who made them nor where nor when, but I am pretty sure they are gilt over brass.
Linda C |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Linda -
Pheasants also have spurs - I've cleaned and plucked plenty of them. Fighting roosters don't have that kind of a tail. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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The figures are not meant to be biologically exact replicas of one or another breeds of birds, but are rather a stylized version of a fighting cock...
Chickens, pheasants and all varieties thereof have a tremendous amount of variety. Ever been to an exhibit of show chickens? The variety would make your head spin...curly tail, straight tail, fluffy neck, bare head etc etc.
See the link below. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Fighting cocks
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| I looked on the bottom and cannot tell if it is worn to grey. The tiny dot of metal I do see where the foot touches the table is too small to tell, but I think it looks shiny? And where I did polish the small bit on the back of the wing and tail, it also is shiny. I cannot tell if the bit of shine is a silvery shine or a brassy shine, though. Would pot metal weigh this much, and would it not show pits? This doesn't show any pitting anywhere. Isn't pot metal dull? Ah well, I'll probably never know if these have any age or history to them or not. They are very pretty, whatever they are. Thanks for all comments and help. :) |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| Pot metal was often gilded or even brass plated for cheap decorations. It is heavy. The two diagnostic points are that it doesn't attract a magnet and if you scratch it, it shows a bright silvery grey. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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| I have the same birds in a white ceramic, no marks, so possibly made in a ceramics class~paid $3 for the pair. I thought they were 'interesting' and purchased them for my space in an antique mall. I refer to them as 'vintage 50's' on the price/description tag. |
RE: Can someone tell me what these might be?
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Pot metal is heavy....it's a varying mix of zinc lead and other stuff. One of the characteristics of thes tuff is it's very brittle and doesn't take a good finely detailed casting.
But tehre is also something often called "white brass" or "spelter"...which does cast well...but is also more brittle and softer than yellow brass. |
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