Pique Assiette Bird House. Made from antique china and a found object, a bird figurine. I loved the feel of this bird but it had some chips on it and broken branches. I could tell it would have been an expensive collectible, as it was beautifully hand painted, signed and numbered. I could also tell that is was an older piece. I noted the chips were on the breast and figured I could hide the broken branch by covering with bisque roses. So glad I used it as it really made this piece.

The base or birdhouse is made from mdf board as it is intended for inside home decor only and a good mosaic substrate. This was not made to be a functional outside birdhouse. Awhile back, I had a customer complain as she wanted to buy a birdhouse but had nowhere to put it as all her flat surfaces were filled. So I came up with this wall birdhouse design that has proven quite popular. The front and sides are mosaicked but the back is left plain so it can be hung flat on the wall.

People often ask where I get all my china. I haunt auctions, flea markets, garage sales, and estate sales seeking rose patterns with a certain feel. I also look for old furniture and other interesting wares to mosaic. I love to pair the simplicity of these old cast-aways with the elegance of exquisite china patterns. Hence, they become beautiful yet not fussy. In keeping with this, I try and give my work a look of simple elegance.

© Copyright 1999-2007 Elizabeth Willhite. Simply Smashing Mosaics. All rights reserved. These images and all art work within including text and intellectual property may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed or used for any other purpose without the expressed written permission of the artist.