Three Gemstone and Hardstone Models of Exotic Birds

#18095: Three Gemstone and Hardstone Models of Exotic Birds
Continental, 20th century
Smallest: height 7cm, width 6cm, depth 3cm
Largest: height 9cm, width 11cm, depth 8cm

This group of three birds comprises a hummingbird, a toucan and a perched songbird, each carved from a selection of coloured hardstones and mounted on a natural mineral specimen.
Each bird is assembled from individually carved sections of stone, selected for their colours, veining and banding. The natural characteristics of the materials are used to suggest variations in plumage, and incised detailing defines the feathers.
The hummingbird is carved principally from a pale, honey-toned translucent stone, with a long tapering beak graduating from amber to warm orange, a red inset eye and a banded blue-grey tail. It perches on a natural amethyst specimen, its clustered crystals ranging from deep violet to almost colourless.
The songbird has a variegated green and reddish-brown body veined with turquoise blue, with overlapping carved wing feathers, a pale pink hardstone beak and an orange inset eye. Slender metal legs support the bird on a natural matrix of white quartz and pyrite.
The toucan has a dark hardstone body densely incised to suggest the plumage of the wings and tail. Its large downcurved bill is carved from a pale golden stone with a green-blue section at the base, and the eye is inset in orange. The bird stands on a natural pyrite specimen, the metallic crystalline surface contrasting with the polished hardstones.
$3,750