Name: Pīwakawaka | Fantail
Brand: Cheeky Beaks
Price: 89.00 NZD
Availability: InStock

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.

Miromiro | Tomtit

Tieke | Saddleback

How do we do it?

We won’t give away all our secrets, but here’s a peek behind the scenes at how our birds come to life.

Meet the Pīwakawaka | Fantail

Say hello to our spirited Pīwakawaka. Curious, lively, and full of charm, this little bird embodies everything we love about these iconic New Zealand natives. Pīwakawaka are among the few species that thrive alongside humans, and many Kiwis (including the Cheeky Beaks team!) happily rank them among the top five coolest birds in Aotearoa.

Handmade in Arrowtown by our Cheeky Beaks ceramics team, each Pīwakawaka is individually formed from white porcelain and carefully glazed to bring its personality to life. These cheerful birds perch beautifully on a windowsill, keep you company on your desk, or add a touch of whimsy to a garden tree or fence post.

Because every piece is handmade, your Pīwakawaka will be truly one-of-a-kind, with slight variations that make each bird uniquely special.

Dimensions (mm): 160 h × 110 l × 116 w
Weight: 140 g

Please note: We try to keep Pīwakawaka in stock, but if it needs to be made to order, please allow 2 weeks.

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.