Description:  A beautiful wood carving depicting an egret standing on a piece of drift wood. The egret is carved of what looks like a single piece of wood has wire legs that are anchored in a piece of drift wood. The carving shows nice details of the bird's head, beak, and eyes. The piece also shows outline of the wings and the tail. It also shows marks of the carving knife throughout. The piece has a brown finish on the surface of the wood. The finish is lost in several spots throughout the body, especially on the tail and back. The piece is signed on the drift wood with the name J H DeFrancis. A great hand carved bird that is well done, which would make a great addition to your collection or can be used as a decorative accent in your shore cottage. Please carefully review the photos as they are part and parcel of our description.

Date:  Uncertain but most likely mid to late 20th century.

Origin:  Purchased at an estate sale in Southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Size:  The egret measures ~8 5/8" long with the base (drift wood piece) is ~9 1/2" Long. The piece is ~8" at its highest point. The piece weighs about 7 ounces.  

Maker:  J H DeFrancis.

Marks:  Signed on the front of the base with off-white color "J H DeFrancis" in block letters.

Condition:  The piece appears to be carved from a single piece oof wood and is in excellent condition with minimum wear. The piece has no breaks or repairs. It has a few scratches to the surface and minor losses. The piece is slightly soiled but nothing of true concern. The only thing we see is losses to the surface finish (lacquering) especially in the tail area and the back of the bird. Other than that the bird is great looking and has great character. This is a solid, and beautiful piece which would display very nicely in your collection or make for a nice decorative accent. Please see photos for additional condition information.