Name: Stone Kererū
Brand: Cheeky Beaks
Price: 99.00 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.

Stone Kererū Sculpture

Handcrafted | Olivine Serpentine, Reclaimed Metal & Wood

New Zealand's grand, gloriously plump native pigeon - immortalised in stone.

Designed and crafted by Zimbabwean-born, New Zealand sculptor Jack Stobart, along with his team, each kererū is shaped from olivine serpentine - its deep green tones and natural mottling are a remarkably faithful echo of the bird's own iridescent plumage. The sweeping white breast marking is carved directly into the stone and then set with resin, emerging naturally from the sculpture rather than added as an afterthought. No two pieces are ever alike.

The sleek tail and beak are crafted from wood, burnt to give warmth and contrast, and the resin eye adds a flash of the kererū's characteristic red. The delicate feet are fashioned from recycled metal, fine and precise beneath the bird's satisfyingly solid body.

Serene, beautifully proportioned and instantly recognisable to anyone who has watched one crash through a tree canopy, the kererū is a piece that captures both the weight and the quiet dignity of this much-loved bird.

A genuinely handmade piece with a distinctly New Zealand soul - and a gift that will be kept for a lifetime.

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.