Tagua Nut YZ Bird Bottle Stopper

A YZ nut bird bottle stopper designed by draftsman & cartoonist Bernard Charles Howell for Henry Howell & Co., 1925.

The wonderfully eccentric bird combines an unusual assortment of materials typical of YZ's imaginative production. Its body is formed from a tagua nut, or 'vegetable ivory', while the carved rattan head retains a series of natural concentric rings that emulate a peafowl's crest.

The distinctive bird is finished with cased glass eyes and a large navy blue Bakelite beak, and stands upon a matching Bakelite disc, above a helpful cork. Both playful and distinctly Art Deco, the characterful design combination of materials is characteristic of YZ's inventive approach to everyday objects.

Although unbranded, as no surface permits, this bird can be seen in The YZ Archive.