This hand carved 2 toned owl paperweight with glass eyes has no makers mark. A lot of work went into the detailing of this beautiful yellow and brown owl but I am not sure if it's made of marble or alabaster. Today when we think of owls we usually think of them as a beautiful and valuable asset to the natural ecology feeding on undesirable rodents, insects, frogs, lizards, and birds. We marvel at their silent flight, incredible eyesight and hearing, and their ability to almost completely turn their heads around. However, this wasn't always the case. To the Greeks the owl was the favorite creature of Athene, the Goddess of Wisdom. The Greeks revered the owl and protected them. To have an owl fly over an army before battle was sign of impending victory. To the Romans, the owl was a creature from the underworld and a portend of impending doom or death. To hear the hoot of an owl meant that there would soon be a death. The English adopted much of their owl folklore from their Roman conquerors. For them, the owl was a sinister creature. It hunted in the night, a time closely associated with death and evil. In very good condition it measures 2 1/2 inches high with a 2 1/4 inch girth. An addition to any Owl, Paperweight or Marble Collection. SH & Ins. will be quoted after orders placed. If you have questions contact me and thank you for looking.
