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
Handmade at home
Every ceramic bird is handmade in our studio here in New Zealand. Each piece is carefully glazed and carries its own unique character—no two are exactly the same
Collect the flock
Collect them all! These cheeky birds love hanging in a flock - pop them on a windowsill, fence, or deck and watch your own colourful colony come to life.
Doing our bit.
With every bird sold, a portion is donated to conservation groups across New Zealand, helping protect and preserve our feathered friends for generations to come.
How do we do it?
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.
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.
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
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.
Frequently asked questions
Are they handmade in NZ?
Yes. Each bird is slip cast, fettled, and glazed by hand in Arrowtown. Because every piece is made individually, there are natural variations in shape, surface, and character - no two are exactly alike.
Can the birds be displayed outside?
Yes - the birds are suitable for outdoor display. Each piece has a threaded bolt set into the base, so it can be perched on a post or ledge, or mounted onto an M6 rod pushed into a garden bed or pot plant. Though they can handle frosts, We recommend bringing them in over winter.
How are the birds mounted?
Each bird has a threaded bolt set into the base. It sits securely on any flat post or ledge, or can be screwed onto a standard M6 threaded rod - available from most hardware stores - and pushed into a garden bed or pot plant.
I'd like a specific species - can I request one?
Yes — we love designing new birds. Send us an email at enquiries@jackstobart.com and we'll see what we can do.
Do you support bird conservation?
Yes - a portion of every Cheeky Beaks sale is donated to bird conservation in Aotearoa. We support the Kea Conservation Trust and Forest & Bird, two organisations working to protect New Zealand's native birds and the wild places they call home.
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