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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 03:21:09 PM

Title: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 03:21:09 PM
This is on a Wilcox Silver Plate Coffee set. Trying to identify the bird. I thought it was  a woodpecker (because of the long beak), someone on another site thinks it's a Road Runner.  Thought I'd better come to the experts to get the answer.
(http://www.antique-shop.com/home/chris/Antiques/dsc03754.jpg)
(http://www.antique-shop.com/home/chris/Antiques/dsc03755.jpg)
(http://www.antique-shop.com/home/chris/Antiques/dsc03758.jpg)

Chris
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: bigwull on August 27, 2013, 03:29:48 PM
do road-runners usually climb trees,or bushes....looks like a woodpecker.ish burd tae me.... :D.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 03:35:31 PM
Well, they do next in low trees according to Wikipedia, however I thought it looked like a Pileated Woodpecker but what would either be doing on a coffee set? Sure wish I could come up with old silver plate catalogs for these manufacturers.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 27, 2013, 03:54:37 PM
Its head is more like a woodpecker,, body is similar to roadrunner !! Wrong habitat for either one !! Roadrunners are meat eaters,, they would not be in a place like that unless hunting !! Body is wrong for most woodpecker species !! Their tails are not long !!  Who made this piece ??
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 04:08:38 PM
Wilcox, here's the Makers Mark Mart:

(http://www.antique-shop.com/home/chris/Antiques/dsc03711.jpg)

Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 27, 2013, 05:10:44 PM
Didn`t you download a catalogue from Wilcox ??  Have you looked in it ??
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: bigwull on August 27, 2013, 05:51:32 PM
having looked at this burdy again....i,m going to say it looks different from a pecker....so, i,ll hedge my bets and call it a roadpecker.....
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 06:14:59 PM
Yes I did Mart, however that pattern is not shown.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 27, 2013, 06:41:10 PM
It may not be a particular bird but like the Japanese did at times ,,just a imaginary bird with no particular species !!  Its a bird for arts sake only because it has a beak,feathers and wings !!
We had a roadrunner a few years back and Pedro would have been mortified at that depiction of himself !!  When he built a nest on my window sill and laid two eggs we figured it wasn`t a "Pedro" but the name stuck and he/she knew it so she stayed Pedro !!  She died of old age we assume,,sitting in the garage watching for field mice !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 06:58:05 PM
That could be true also Mart, which it probably is just an imaginary bird to make it look pretty and fancy. We've got a pair of Red Belly Woodpeckers that hang around, we call them Woody and Woodette. They love to steal peanuts from the squirrel feeder when I fill it up.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 27, 2013, 07:12:35 PM
I miss having Pedro around !! I kept a mouse trap in the feed room for the occasional mouse and when I caught one I tossed it to Pedro and it was down the hatch in a second !!  Never thought about a roadrunner being a carnivore till we had her !! Bought her chicken gizzards when no mice available !!  Tried chicken liver once and she looked like,,you expect me to eat that ??  Watching her walk around in the yard with two pit bulls for friends was odd to some people !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 27, 2013, 07:20:39 PM
I would have loved to have seen that Mart. It's odd how we can tame some wild creatures just be being nice to them. The woodpeckers will sit in the tree and yell at me until I put the food out, same with the squirrels, they'll sit on the tree limbs and just chatter away at me. Though this year they got me a little mad, guess I wasn't feeding them enough as they decided our ripe tomatoes were a better treat then peanuts.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: KC on August 28, 2013, 12:46:13 AM
I believe it is also an "artistic" bird.

Mart, we used to have roadrunners everywhere.  Now that all is built up around us we only see them occasionally. They would come over the top of our 7' fence like it was nothing.  They sure help with the mouse population!

I would have loved to have watched the nest!  Did they hatch successfully?

Beep Beep!!!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: cogar on August 28, 2013, 04:00:06 AM
I was thinking that roadrunners will kill snakes and eat them.

But the bird in question has wings displayed like a hawk or falcon, a crest like some woodpeckers and dozens of other birds, a bill like a seed, nectar, insect or aquatic feeder …… so maybe it’s a “Platypus” bird.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: ghopper1924 on August 28, 2013, 04:10:37 AM
It looks tropical!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 28, 2013, 06:19:28 AM
I believe it is also an "artistic" bird.

Mart, we used to have roadrunners everywhere.  Now that all is built up around us we only see them occasionally. They would come over the top of our 7' fence like it was nothing.  They sure help with the mouse population!

I would have loved to have watched the nest!  Did they hatch successfully?

Beep Beep!!!

No they didn`t hatch !!  Was no male around so we assumed they were not fertile !! And we think Pedro was an old bird so that may have played a part too !! She built her nest on my bedroom window sill and it was interesting watching her place the sticks and twigs !! At one point it was a little big and started to sag so I slid a flat metal grate under it and into the window edge then closed the window to support it !! She was a happy bird !!
You really should have seen peoples faces when I called Pedro and here comes a roadrunner around the corner of the house !!   Odd thing was she was never particularly leary of people or at least not us or the dogs !!
I guess after I tossed her that first mouse she decided this was a pretty nice retirement home !! I just found her sitting in the back of the garage dead one day.  She was here about a year and a half !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 28, 2013, 07:34:58 AM
It does look like a mixture of several birds. The picture below was taken in our front yard the middle of last month. It's only about 25ft from where my wife stood on the porch to where they were standing. The whole town has deer running around most all the time ever since builders started destroying their habitat to build new houses they come into town looking for food and water. This is just about an every night scene and don't believe when they say a plant is 'deer proof' there is no such thing.

(http://www.antique-shop.com/home/chris/FrontYardGame/deer-2.jpg)
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 28, 2013, 08:19:50 AM
My horses keep extra wildlife out of the pasture except coyotes,,dogs keep them out of the yard !! We don`t have the pit bulls anymore,,Ditto got hit by a car and Eve had cancer !!  Now we have hunting type dogs !! A lab and a lab cross and a Scottish deerhound !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: wendy177 on August 28, 2013, 03:37:08 PM
Love it deer, roadrunners, coyotes! We have coyotes, deer and lately a lot of bears running around on main roads & in yards, back decks & such. We have a much loved  coonhound  Franklin Theodore that keeps watch on us and our yard  :)  As far as the bird it kind of resembles a blue heron.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 28, 2013, 04:04:38 PM
Hmm, that could be. I'll have to find a picture and compare them.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: sapphire on August 28, 2013, 05:13:35 PM
I was thinking heron too, but have yet to find a picture of one with that elongated tail.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 28, 2013, 06:48:51 PM
Herons nor egrets have long tails !!  Legs are not long enough for those and again,, wrong habitat !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: sapphire on August 28, 2013, 07:23:11 PM
If it weren't for the longer beak it does resembles the Chinese mythical Fenghuang or Phoenix.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenghuang

Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 28, 2013, 08:28:43 PM
Well, its closer to that one  than any North American bird I can think of !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 28, 2013, 08:50:28 PM
True, I've gone and posted a photo to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to see if we can get any answers. Did get one to call an antique dealer in New York, More and More Antiques except they only have a phone number, no email so I can't send a photo.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 28, 2013, 09:22:28 PM
Sapphire, Mart, just looked at some photos of a Phoenix, that does seem to fit the profile and might go along with the theme of this set.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: Ipcress on August 29, 2013, 02:40:01 AM
Why are you spending so much time trying to identify the bird ?
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: bigwull on August 29, 2013, 03:15:14 AM
for that Ip, you get a cookie..... ;D
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 29, 2013, 07:52:02 AM
I'm curious as to what it is on this set. I'll just let it go then and end the thread.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: Ipcress on August 29, 2013, 08:24:45 AM
I'm curious as to what it is on this set. I'll just let it go then and end the thread.


Point being that it could be copying the Oriental style with peony and fenghuang. It could be sticks, berries and a woodpecker. More likely you'll never know and it doesn't really affect the value or history of the item

Wasn't being rude !
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 29, 2013, 09:07:39 AM
You're right, and I know you weren't being rude, I'd just gotten up and was still on my first cup of coffee so I was a little 'touchy'. After a couple of cups of coffee I do see your point and unless I do find a Wilcox catalog with that pattern in it I'll never know.

Chris
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 29, 2013, 10:34:41 AM
Just natural curiosity when something doesn`t fit !!  I have spent days looking for stuff like that !!  Drives me nuts when I can`t find something !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: KC on August 29, 2013, 12:43:15 PM
Good Question Ipcress! And I agree it wasn't being rude.  We al have different motives for trying to find out information about our items.

capot1948, I have found a few other Wilcox items that are being identified as Herons as well.  It does go along with the time period and what was popular at the time.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wilcox-Silverplate-Co-Quadruple-Silver-Plate-Baby-Cup-1346-Heron-Birds-/181186962991?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item2a2f95a62f (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Wilcox-Silverplate-Co-Quadruple-Silver-Plate-Baby-Cup-1346-Heron-Birds-/181186962991?pt=Antiques_Silver&hash=item2a2f95a62f)

http://www.amazon.com/Caddy-Wilcox-Silver-Plate-Silverplate/dp/B002ROHHE4 (http://www.amazon.com/Caddy-Wilcox-Silver-Plate-Silverplate/dp/B002ROHHE4)

A good article for you to ponder - do bleieve yours is from the early to mid 1900's
ww.ehow.com/how_4729109_recognize-era-antique-silver-plate.html (http://ww.ehow.com/how_4729109_recognize-era-antique-silver-plate.html)
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 29, 2013, 01:39:56 PM
Its always possible that the artist just didn`t know about the subject bird !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 29, 2013, 02:47:18 PM
KC, that link you sent me for the baby cup is exactly the same bird. In the 3rd photo showing a closeup is the same one on my set. Looks like question solved. It's a Heron. Thanks to all who helped me on this and I do apologize if I sounded rude this morning.

Chris
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: Ipcress on August 29, 2013, 03:51:30 PM
That's someone on Ebay calling them heron birds. There are people on ebay crazy enough to call a dog a giraffe.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: KC on August 29, 2013, 06:33:19 PM
Chris that's the joy of our society and only having typed words!  Things can come off harsh/rude when they are meant to be...and other times when they are meant to be they don't!  LOLOL

Glad could be of help! I think it is supposed to be a crane (good luck symbol) but it is often called a Heron!  Whatever...it appears to be a bird!  :)
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 29, 2013, 06:46:56 PM
How true KC. Yes, it's a bird, don't know why I became obsessed with it. Maybe out of boredom who knows. Anyway, for those of you who live in Texas we went to Salado today to the Salado Creek Antiques store. My gosh, wish we had a huge house they have so much beautiful antique furniture there and of course other antiques as well. We actually did find a few things that fit into our budget though and the folks there are so nice and friendly and knowledgeable.

Chris
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 29, 2013, 08:06:35 PM
You will have to post some pics of your finds !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 29, 2013, 08:39:07 PM
I'll do that Mart, my wife got too much sun or something today and got a splitting headache so nothing has been unwrapped yet. I'll post photos tomorrow.
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 29, 2013, 08:42:22 PM
Excellent !!  Will look for them !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: bigwull on August 29, 2013, 09:33:58 PM
I'm curious as to what it is on this set. I'll just let it go then and end the thread.

don,t throw all yer toys out of the pram.....i did it last week....and am buggered if i can find them all.... :D
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: KC on August 29, 2013, 11:23:25 PM
Love going to Salado.  Haven't been there awhile...since my brother is no longer at Fort Hood we don't go that way as often.  My family always loved to eat at the Stagecoach Inn!  Jealous!!!!!

Can't wait to see your finds!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: mart on August 30, 2013, 08:57:25 AM
Love going to Salado.  Haven't been there awhile...since my brother is no longer at Fort Hood we don't go that way as often.  My family always loved to eat at the Stagecoach Inn!  Jealous!!!!!

Can't wait to see your finds!


If you go through Clifton to get there,, my brother has a BBQ restaurant if you like that kind of Texas cuisine !!
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: KC on August 30, 2013, 10:40:05 AM
Oohhhh...would love to know and go there!!!!  That would be so weird to go and meet him but have never met you!  LOLOL
Title: Re: Can someone identify this bird
Post by: capot1948 on August 30, 2013, 11:13:31 AM
As soon as I download the photos I'll post them to a new thread, Salado, Tx finds.