Small Cast Iron bird. Age and what for?

Little thing is 4" tall and weight is 2 lbs. Appears to be solid with a seam down the middle.

Mikey

 

I wouldn't assume your bird is old. The wear is uniform in color and carefully applied. Looks like the type of decorative item one would expect to find at Anthropologie, for instance.

Debora

 

FYI, I just typed the words "iron bird" and "Anthropologie" into Google Search and, by itself, the computer added the words "door stop." You may have your answer.

Debora

 

It could have been repainted. I've been searching all morning and nothing like this one yet.

 

One can come fairly close.

Debora

 

I believe it is modern too. Little cast iron birds are popular at Hobby Lobby and such places. If it is older it would have been sandblasted before it was repainted IMHO. Here is a search showing some of the many different new little cast iron birds. While yours is not there these represent only a small portion of a very popular item. I have never seen an antique equivalent to them although that does not mean there may not be.

 

I've seen cast iron birds, but they were mill weights and the like. I wouldn't think this was old; an old one that was painted wouldn't have paint on the underside. The castings of the old ones were sharper too. The alloys they used in the old days and casting techniques were better than anything in common use now.

 

Thank you all for the information and examples. That's why I love this site. So I have a newer piece of yard art.

Mike