Topic: Ayotte bird ID

[tropdevin]

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Can anyone help confirm the identify of the bird Rick Ayotte has represented in the paperweight below - I suspect it is a Baltimore oriole?

Alan

[Nick77]

I think your right Alan, the American Robin is similar but doesn't have the white bars on the wings or yellow underside to the tail.

Nick

[Wuff]

What size is it? I do not find the weight in the Selman book, including the chapter "A Comprehensive Record of the Artist's Work 1978-1996". There are two pages of miniature weights, however - including one looking very similar, just mirrored. Unfortunately no names are mentioned for these miniatures.

[tropdevin]

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Hi Wuff.

I think you would call it a miniature : the diameter is 55 mm /  2 1/8 inch.

Alan

[mildawg]

I'm no ornithologist but I would place a heavy bet on the Baltimore oriole!

[paperweights]

Hi Alan,

It is shown on page 144 of the book Songs without Words.  Pages 144 and 145 show the miniatures without labels.  One row up from the bottom, the first entry on the left.  The picture in the book has the bird facing right instead of left, but it looks like the same bird. 

It matches the A163 (1986) on page 86.  The entry is:  "Baltimore Oriole with black-eyed Susans Compound.  A Baltimore Oriole cocks its head around to peer at a gathering of black-eyed Susans.  Limited edition of 75.  Miniature - unlimited."  There is an additional comment:  "An attempt to correlate the unique and vivid colors of the black-eyed Susan and the standout oriole."

To put the description in context, the full size design has many flowers rather than just three flowers and a bud. 

Regards,

[tropdevin]

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Hi Allan.

Many thanks.

Alan

[Sach]

Keep in mind that errors do occur in the printing of catalogs and reference materials.  During this time frame most artists were using slides to document their work, a type of image that can very easily be reversed when viewing or printing.