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Welcome to Cheeky Beaks

Each bird handcrafted in NZ - the perfect gift for bird lovers & kiwi homes

Cheeky Beaks - Stone & Ceramics Studio

Hand-cast in porcelain and carved in stone - New Zealand sculptor Jack Stobart makes native birds the slow way, on purpose. The ceramics are individually glazed and kiln-fired in his Arrowtown studio. The stone birds are carved by hand, each one unique. Both make a gift worth keeping.

Check out the birds

OUR CRAFT

How do we make our ceramic birds?

Discover the care and craftsmanship behind every ceramic bird.

01

Bird design

Each bird is carefully hand-sculpted from clay, with a focus on staying true to its real-life counterpart - while adding a subtle, whimsical twist that gives it its own unique personality.

02

Slip casting

Once a design is finalised, we create a plaster mould of the bird. After it sets, the original sculpture is removed, leaving a negative impression inside the mould. Liquid clay is then poured in and allowed to dry, forming a replica of the original model.

03

Fettling

The birds are then removed from their moulds, and we carefully add the finishing details - bottoms, beaks, wattles, eye rings, and all the little features that bring each species to life. Once complete, they are left to dry before being bisque fired in our kiln to 1000°C.

04

Glazing & Underglazing

Once bisque fired, each bird is carefully coloured using underglaze and glaze, with a focus on staying true to its living counterpart. After glazing, they are returned to the kiln for a final firing at 1250°C, bringing out their richness of colour and durability.