Archaeopteryx 1:1 retro model

[DinoToyForum]

I've raised this before a long time ago, but can't for the life of me find the discussion, so I'm setting up a new thread. There are two identical 1:1 Archaeopteryx models in the Nottingham Natural History Museum.



I don't know when the museum bought them, and there are no markings on them, but the style looks like they could be from the 1960s.

They are made of plaster and painted. The claws seem to be reused real bird claws.

I seem to remember, when I shared these before, someone was aware of another one in a different museum, and may have had some background info on their origin. Was it @Halichoeres? If not, does anyone know anything about this model or seen any others?

[Halichoeres]

Hmm, if I had some information on it, I have since forgotten it, sorry. I don't recognize this model.

[DinoToyForum]

Hmm, if I had some information on it, I have since forgotten it, sorry. I don't recognize this model.

It probably wasn't you then. But I'm sure I'm not misremembering that *someone* on the forum recognised it. Ooh, I wonder if it was @Doug Watson ?

[DinoToyForum]

Does this ring any bells @Doug Watson?

[Doug Watson]

Does this ring any bells @Doug Watson?

Yes I was the one that responded. Back in the 90s we had a painted cast of that piece in the shop at CMN for a repaint. I don't think I had any information on its provenance at the time. Unfortunately everyone I knew that might have any information on it has either been laid off, retired or has died. It may have been around the time we were working on the Canada/China Dinosaur Project. Amongst the current paleo staff the ones that have been there the longest are Dr. Xiao-Chun Wu in research and Alan McDonald in collections. I don't think Dr. Wu was there back then but Alan may have been around.
Now that I think of it it may have been late 80s or early 90s the guy that painted it got laid off in 1993.

[DinoToyForum]

Does this ring any bells @Doug Watson?

Yes I was the one that responded. Back in the 90s we had a painted cast of that piece in the shop at CMN for a repaint. I don't think I had any information on its provenance at the time. Unfortunately everyone I knew that might have any information on it has either been laid off, retired or has died. It may have been around the time we were working on the Canada/China Dinosaur Project. Amongst the current paleo staff the ones that have been there the longest are Dr. Xiao-Chun Wu in research and Alan McDonald in collections. I don't think Dr. Wu was there back then but Alan may have been around.
Now that I think of it it may have been late 80s or early 90s the guy that painted it got laid off in 1993.

Thanks for confirming @Doug Watson! I'll make contact with Alan McDonald and see if I can find some answers, although it seems like a long shot. Both of mine are casts as well so I think this confirms they were sold commercially. I presume the model still exists in the CMN collection somewhere so I'm curious to see if I can find some pictures of it.

[Torvosaurus]

Now that this has been resolved, I have to say that the model looks like a late 1800s to middle 1900s duck decoy. They actually look a lot older than the 1960s. I have to wonder when the true mold was actually carved.

Torvo

[Libraraptor]

What a charming model!

[DinoToyForum]

What a charming model!

Although it is a bit crude by modern standards, I've decided to put it on display in the public museum. This is why I want some information about it, so I can write a label to put it into context.