Is this a factory second Hutshenreuther?

16" tall golden pheasant but that hole right through the maker's mark suggests to me that it is a factory second? or not? From a recent auction.

 

I do not know, just guessing that it is a vent hole.

 

Usually a scratch through the mark indicates a second, but factories have different practices. Here I agree with Roaring 20s -- it's a hole with a purpose.

 

Vent hole - keeps the piece from exploding in the kiln.

 

I wouldn't have thought it would have a paper label and artist initials if it was a second. Beautiful piece!

 

here is another golden pheasant, not sure if its exactly the same, from etsy and the hole is off to the side. I cant help think that must be deliberate but I dunno. Not sure if this hole is smaller or its just that the base is bigger.

 

Everything on the base of your bird, looks right to me. Vent hole, Makers mark, artists initials, all good. Sometimes there just isn't enough room on the base for the maker's mark and they aren't all that careful when applying it. So the mark ended up over the vent hole. The artist's name is even impressed into the clay. I would say not a second.