artisan-made sterling silver seagull figurine is a realistic miniature
signed Scarponi underneath the stand made from a piece of cross-cut wood branch
Barbara Scarponi (1941-2018) was a New Hampshire artist who studied under Arthur Vierthaler. She was the subject of an award-winning film series produced by New Hampshire Public Television Network entitled, ""The World and Work of the American Craftsman."" She was well known and highly respected as a juried member of the League of N.H. Craftsmen, which holds her work in their permanent collection.
total height of the piece is 2 3/4" tall, and the sea gull measures 2" tall x 1 3/4" wide
metal is unmarked and untested but she made her tiny sculptures like this in sterling; a 1971 Home & Garden magazine issue ad or feature said "Barbara Scarponi communicates the true charm and excellence of craft with delicate castings in sterling silver. Each tiny gem is hand-finished and carefully mounted on a wood base. Owl - sandpiper - etc.
this was completely black / oxidized, so we polished it lightly to highlight and retain the detailed textures of the hand-cast metal