Did Boucher make the Gryphon/Griffin WITHOUT the enamel detailing? I have what looks like one.. Would like to determine if it is a period copy or the real deal..
Tracy Janik
Tracy Janik
"This came up on the other list a couple years ago, March 2005. Yes,
Boucher made an all pave version. But there were also a lot of copies made back in the day, so yours may be one of those, especially considering that the plating is crackled, not typical of Boucher. Erik Yang had posted to JC that "I recently purchased the MB Griphon in question. It was made in an enamel version like the one on the cover of the Brunialti book, a gold tone/pave version, and an all pave version. I have not seen any fakes of
this piece on the market lately. Of course, as others have mentioned, the pin was copied early on by other companies. Usually the quality is inferior to that of the Boucher example."
I don't know where the real Boucher gryphon birds were marked, behind the head or not. That might be worth asking of anyone who has had the pin or saved pictures of the reverse. And I don't think there was ever a definitive answer offered as to how it came to be called a gryphon. It almost sounds like Brunialti used the word in gryphon in one book, but in the other he called it a gazza, Italian for magpie---but it is certainly no magpie! I don't have his books here, so I can't double-check those references. A griffin typically has the body of a lion, with wings and a vulture's head, so this fantasy bird of Boucher's is not a griffin. But sometimes "gryphon", taken from the Greek spelling and root, can mean any fantasy creature, or so opined Ginger Moro. So you'd probably be safest describing it both as a gryphon/griphon and a fantasy bird." --Linda Jo, 02/26/08
"There has definitely been a repro made of this fantasy bird (the one on the book cover.) It was the last repro ordered by the former owner of that company before she died. She sent one of them to me." --Bobye Syverson, 02/26/08
"I have shown this to the group more than once but for those that
haven't seen it - below is the original Boucher exotic/fantasy pin. It's not a repro, fake, re-isuue, recast or otherwise ... it's the real deal ;) There is a pic of the mark and some closeups of the enamel work. Be sure to click on the thumbnail pic for a close up and click on the "view" links in the description." --Jan Gaughan, 02/26/08
"Always love to look at it, Jan!
And that answers one question, looks like MB would've put his mark on the back wing feathers, not behind the head." --Linda Jo, 02/26/08
"I have this with red enamel eye or line...pave but it is signed Reinad?...on the wing> Does that mean mine is a fake?" --KATHLEEN, 06/13/10
"I have this also ...all pave with red line for eye. It is signed on wing Reinad. Is this a repro or fake?" --Kathleen, 06/13/10
Other Sizes: Original Medium