Pair of Vintage Silver Plate Fighting Roosters

A pair of silver plated fighting cocks caught mid-clash, wings thrown wide and heads lowered for the strike. Figures like these were made as facing pairs to dress a sideboard or a study, and the whole appeal is the drama of the pose. Both are worked with dense feather detail from comb to tail. Neither bird stands on its own, so they are meant to display on a shelf or in a cabinet where they can lean into the fight.

[d]Dimensions | Taller bird 8 in. H x 6.5 in. W x 5.75 in. D. Smaller bird 6.75 in. H x 5.5 in. W x 8.25 in. D

[d]Surface | Original silverplate, unpolished

[d]Primary Material | Silverplate over base metal

[d]Date | 20th century

[d]Origin | Continental European, likely Italian

[d]Style or Movement | Continental figural silverplate

[d]Also Known As | fighting cockerels, gamecocks

[d]Maker, Mark, or Attribution | Unmarked, no maker identifiable

[d]Marks | None found on either bird at the feet, body, or tail

[d]Construction or Technique | Hollow cast in multiple sections and assembled, with open joins visible where the cast pieces meet

[condition]

Both birds are structurally sound and complete, and sold as a pair. The surface shows light overall wear consistent with age and handling. There are open gaps in the metal at the wing roots and body joins, most visible on the taller bird. These are original to how the pieces were made, where the separately cast sections meet rather than damage, and no section is loose or detached. Neither bird stands upright on its own because the flared wings carry the weight forward, so they display best on a shelf or in a cabinet. No repairs, no replaced parts, and no losses noted. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this descriptio

#159