Condition: Used
Condition Notes: Overall: Excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks or repairsPaintwork: Well-preserved colors with minimal fadingDetailing: Fine details intact including small mouse featuresBase: Wooden plinth in excellent conditionBottom: Green felt covering likely present (visible edge in images)Age-Appropriate: Some very slight darkening consistent with age (40 years old)
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Signed By: Ray Ayres
Occasion: All Occasions
Size: Medium
Year Manufactured: 1983
Colour: Multicoloured
Department: Adults
Item Height: 5 in
Number in Pack: 1
Features: Hand Painted
Room: Any Room
Handmade: Yes
Pattern: Wildlife
Signed: Yes
Material: Cold Cast Resin,Resin
Modified Item: No
Subject: Owl
Brand: Border Fine Arts
Type: Figurine
Era: Late 20th Century (1970-1999)
Packaging: Unboxed
Theme: Animals,Art,Wildlife
Collection: Wildlife
Original/Reproduction: Original
Time Period Manufactured: 1980-1989
Product Details:
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Brand: Border Fine Arts (BFA Scotland)
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Collection: Wildlife/Countryside Series
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Subject: Barn Owl with Mouse
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Artist: Ayres (signature visible on base)
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Year: 1983 (marked on base)
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Material: Handpainted coldcast resin/ceramic composite
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Base: Polished wooden circular display plinth
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Dimensions:
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Height: Approximately 5 inches (12 cm)
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Width: Approximately 3 inches (7.5 cm)
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Weight: 293 grams (shown on scale in one image)
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Features:
- Detailed cream/white barn owl with amber eyes
- Small brown field mouse at base
- Natural wood/branch perch
- Textured mossgreen base
- Exquisite feather detailing
- Handcrafted in Scotland
Condition:
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Overall: Excellent vintage condition with no chips, cracks or repairs
-
Paintwork: Wellpreserved colors with minimal fading
-
Detailing: Fine details intact including small mouse features
-
Base: Wooden plinth in excellent condition
-
Bottom: Green felt covering likely present (visible edge in images)
-
AgeAppropriate: Some very slight darkening consistent with age (40 years old)
️ About This Piece:
This charming Border Fine Arts figurine from 1983 depicts a beautifully detailed barn owl (Tyto alba) perched on a weathered branch, gazing down at a small field mouse below. Sculpted by the artist Ayres (whose signature appears on the base), the piece showcases the incredible attention to detail that Border Fine Arts became known for, particularly in their wildlife subjects.
The owl's characteristic heartshaped face and distinctive cream/white coloration are meticulously rendered, while the small brown mouse adds a natural storytelling element to the scene. The figurine perfectly captures the essence of these nocturnal hunters and their prey in a moment of quiet observation.
Border Fine Arts was established in Scotland in 1974 and became renowned for their highly detailed sculptures of wildlife and rural scenes. This piece dates from the company's earlier period (1983), before its acquisition by Enesco in the early 2000s, making it a true collector's item for enthusiasts of vintage Border Fine Arts pieces.
The modest size of this figurine (approximately 4 inches tall) makes it perfect for display in a curio cabinet or on a bookshelf, where the delicate details can be appreciated up close. It would appeal to owl enthusiasts, wildlife collectors, and those with an appreciation for finely crafted British countryside art.
