Topic: White Bird -- Glass or Ceramic?

[TxSilver]

I forgot to mention that the other ashtray bird had the joint in the neck like mine does. The one in the eBay link I provided looks like it does, but it is difficult to see it with the casing.

[jinxi]

Surely it's glass Anita?  I think it is lovely but I think it would be even more lovely and aesthetically pleasing without the neck join!  I would imagine that if it were ceramic, even if initially made in sections, it would be smoothed over and 'integrated' at assembly.  Everything else seems carefully and finely modelled except for this join which suggests perhaps that it couldn't be done for technical reasons rather than the artist was being lazy or sloppy - therefore I vote for glass!

Veronica

[Cathy B]

If it were ceramic, you'd expect some points where the glaze didn't cover. Glaze is applied as a liquid, which then melts on a second firing of the piece. The usual practice these days is to leave bare the section of the base that sits on the kiln shelf, so the matt, slightly rougher surface of the ceramic shows through. An older practice involved coating the entire piece in glaze, but using some sort of stand, which was snapped off after firing, leaving characteristic marks.

[TxSilver]

I do believe it is glass, just a form I am not used to. I handle European glass mainly. This bird is probably a different consistency. After checking as much as I can on Mexican birds, I feel almost certain it is what I am looking at -- either that or a copy of a Mexican bird. I haven't seen any other country that has a neck joint like this. I haven't found company names on any of the pieces I've seen, so I think the best we can do until more information comes in is say it's probably a very nice Mexican glass bird. And remind myself to be careful when buying things online. I think I seriously overpaid, expecting Italian glass.  At least it is pretty.