We are all a-twitter over this piece because\u2026 it is National Bird Day! This German bisque figurine features four children sitting on a rustic bench, all drinking cups of tea. Three girls are grouped together, chatting away; a fourth girl sits on the other end of the bench. She appears to be listening in, perhaps with the help of the tiny bird perched beside her. Fittingly, this piece was unofficially named \u201cThe Gossips\u201d.<\/p>\n
The figurine is hand-painted in pastel shades, with lively detail on each of the faces of the children. The entire piece is heightened in gilt, adding a shimmering quality to the finer details. It dates to the late 19th<\/sup> to early 20th<\/sup> century, during which bisque figures were incredibly popular. Donated to the FRHS by Miss Madeline Thackery Smalley (1911-1995), the piece originally belonged to her aunt, Miss Sarah A. Thackery (1876-1955).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We are all a-twitter over this piece because\u2026 it is National Bird Day! This German bisque figurine features four children sitting on a rustic bench, all drinking cups of tea. Three girls are grouped together, chatting away; a fourth girl sits on the other end of the bench. She appears to be listening in, perhaps…<\/p>\n