Fox H. Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Hi everyone! While passing through a local antique store, I came upon what appears very similar to a Hispano-Suiza hood ornament. No markings visible. It is simply tagged as "Antique Hood Ornament, $300" (Canadian) and I did not purchase it. I find it hard to believe an original Hispano stork is here, but I figured I would check anyways. If it is a reproduction, it seems to be a fairly a good one. My apologies for the bad pictures - chrome is awfully hard to photograph with a smartphone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 There is about a 95% chance that is one of the replicas. There are 10 replica storks for every real one. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edinmass Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 5 minutes ago, alsancle said: There is about a 95% chance that is one of the replicas. There are 10 replica storks for every real one. From the looks of the bottom of the casting and detail in the wings and body, I would say your off by five percent. Sure looks like a poorly done modern casting. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58L-Y8 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 This piece is as much of an objet d'art as those telegraph line glass insulators it shares the shelf with... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_S_in_Penna Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 If it is indeed a reproduction, be sure to tell the seller. No honest car fan wants his fellow car fans--prospective purchasers--to buy a forgery by mistake. An honest antique dealer will welcome your information, verify it for himself, and then mark the replica as the reproduction it evidently is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Sometimes though you get lucky. Years ago I bought a Packard "sliding boy" ornament in an antiques shop for $5. It was described as a "paper weight". 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 It has a Don Sommers look to it... on the original ones I believe they were two pieces silver soldered together at the wing tips where this is obviously a single piece casting. Not the world worst reproduction, but definitely not a genuine 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Agree it looks like a repro. A friend had an original stolen off his 30 Hiso limo on Main St. in Port Washington L.I. while he was in the movie theater. He got a repro and mentioned that the casting was not as well done as the original. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Sommers repros were stainless steel. Pull out the bolt and check if any evidence of brass or die cast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Correct - it is absolutely a reproduction. Originals were marked on the base with the embossed signature of the sculptor-F. Bazin. The base had a recessed area, and there should be a serial number underneath where the wings come down to the base. Terry 3 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fox H. Posted November 12, 2020 Author Share Posted November 12, 2020 Perfect, thanks everyone! I assumed it was a repro, but I wanted to make sure in case anyone needed one. I figured it was strange there weren't any markings, and it didn't look quite right to my eyes. I'll let them know when I step back in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 Notice that pin in the wing tip also show it to be a 2 piece mascot. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
46 woodie Posted November 12, 2020 Share Posted November 12, 2020 I'm not too sure that it is a mascot that Don Sommer reproduced. The picture in the Sommer catalog has the neck and head of the bird sloping down and not as straight as the one pictured and it's not an original as Terry and Mark point out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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