Wise old bird - Marie Henriette Bataille (Dour) owl figurine

Anybody any idea who may have produced this wonderful owl sculpture? I have had it many years now but I have no idea of it's origin.

It might be Barbara Hayward but I could not find any images of her work to cross check the mark against

RVsaid wrote:It might be Barbara Hayward but I could not find any images of her work to cross check the mark against

Thanks for your input. I would expect it to be initials HB rather than BH although you never know. It might well be a Dutch artist as, if I recall correctly, my father was presented with it when he lived here in Holland back in the 80's.

NaomiM wrote:

It might well be a Dutch artist as, if I recall correctly, my father was presented with it when he lived here in Holland

Do you mean presented by the potter? In which case it might be a one off. I've collected owls for a couple of years and never come across one like this in my internet searches.

It was presented by his students I believe when he left the University. I will check with my step-mum to make absolutely sure.

I am absolutely gutted ... I was tidying up this afternoon and I managed to knock my owl off the bedside table ... needless to say it is smashed to smithereens ... one of my favourite pieces gone in one fell-swoop ... gutted - it's irreplaceable ...

What a shame (reminded me of Dave Lee Travis)

I'm sure Nige wouldn't have broken it had he saw-whet

And I believe it may be by Hedwig Bollhagen - look for my recent thread under ID my pottery about a small mug with a duck on it - lots of fascinating info thanks to style invasion. Should be put into the German Pot thread if any mods are looking?

skipposal wrote:What a shame (reminded me of Dave Lee Travis)

It does a bit yes ... !!

I wonder if it could be restored ... ? ... anybody know any really good restorers? ... the head is fine and the feet and tail too ... it's just the middle if the body that has been smashed ... might be do-able ...

skipposal wrote:And I believe it may be by Hedwig Bollhagen - look for my recent thread under ID my pottery about a small mug with a duck on it - lots of fascinating info thanks to style invasion. Should be put into the German Pot thread if any mods are looking?

If that's a positive ID it should be, yes. Is it?

xx

skipposal wrote:And I believe it may be by Hedwig Bollhagen - look for my recent thread under ID my pottery about a small mug with a duck on it - lots of fascinating info thanks to style invasion. Should be put into the German Pot thread if any mods are looking?

Wow - you may well be right there - thanks very much. I have had a look at the website and there is an email contact address on there so I will see if I can get in touch with them. You never know ...

skay wrote: If that's a positive ID it should be, yes. Is it?

xx

My duck painted mug is definitely. Should go under title 'Hedwig Bollhagen (former East Germany)'

I'll bump it so you can see it

Here is the aforementioned damaged article ...

Head



Feet



Missing body parts

could be a lot worse,I would guess it's restorable

Brin McC wrote this in another thread about an Aller Vale piece sunnyices had a while back:
The restorer is Stuart...01277 216310 he was brilliant and cheap

He used to have an antiques shop in Brentwood...he restored a San Marino Vase..which had shattered down the side and "fleabites" on two Troikas and i cant see the joins

skipposal wrote:Brin McC wrote this in another thread about an Aller Vale piece sunnyices had a while back:
The restorer is Stuart...01277 216310 he was brilliant and cheap

He used to have an antiques shop in Brentwood...he restored a San Marino Vase..which had shattered down the side and "fleabites" on two Troikas and i cant see the joins

Thx skip - I might well give him a bell during the week

PS Can't see the join, eh? I wonder if he would give me a face-lift too!!!

I can't believe this, but I'm going to have to agree with ed.

You could always mount it's head though on a plaque, it seems to be what some hunters do after a kill

In all seriousness though, I'm sure it could be "restored" but I expect it would cost a small fortune and never look quite right.

As the owl itself is moulded, trying to find another (especially now you know the maker), may be the best option.

Potty wrote:I can't believe this, but I'm going to have to agree with ed.

You could always mount it's head though on a plaque, it seems to be what some hunters do after a kill

In all seriousness though, I'm sure it could be "restored" but I expect it would cost a small fortune and never look quite right.

As the owl itself is moulded, trying to find another (especially now you know the maker), may be the best option.

Unfortunately, you may well be right sigh ... I think it was an original so unlikely to be another one available ... and good old Hedwig has also shuffled off her mortal coil back in 2001 so chances of having another one made are zero ... things are looking extremely unrosy in the mandrake garden ...

Iv'e definitely seen them on ebay , so there is still hope .

big ed wrote:Iv'e definitely seen them on ebay , so there is still hope .

are you sure ... I thought this was a one-off? if not I will be on ebay everyday looking for one !!!

If anyone sees one for sale let mandrake know

I'll pm you if I happen to see one.

I think if the item has sentimental value then you should mend it actually - but then as an archaeologist all the pots I saw were broken and it never mattered even a fragment can tell a story

skipposal wrote:I think if the item has sentimental value then you should mend it actually - but then as an archaeologist all the pots I saw were broken and it never mattered even a fragment can tell a story

it certainly has a lot of sentimantal value ... of all the pots I have this was the number one I didn't want to break ...