Sergio Bustamante Brutalist Sheet Metal Feather Owl, 1960/70s

A small, exceptionally finely crafted owl sculpture from the period when brutalist metal works from workshops in Jalisco to Vallauris became collector's items. The egg-shaped body consists of several hundred individually cut and shingle-like applied sheet metal "feathers" that spiral around the bird from a central feather rosette on its back. The beak is made of brass, the eyes have a brass iris ring with a black pupil, and the thinly drawn claw feet are made of finely woven wire. The craftsmanship – hand-cut feather plates, brass iris, wire claws – is the signature work of Mexican sculptor Sergio Bustamante (born 1949), whose owls from his studio in Jalisco are today internationally among the most sought-after examples of brutalist animal sculpture.

With a size of H 13.5 × W 10 × D 11 cm, the owl is small enough to fit comfortably in the hand and works as a solitaire on a bookshelf, on a desk next to leather-bound books, in a display cabinet compartment, or as an eye-catcher on a sideboard. The patina is old and naturally developed, with warm bronze and silver nuances that reflect decades of craftsmanship. The condition is very good, consistent with its aged craftsmanship, with no loose feathers and all connections secure.