Australian Kookaburra and Kingfisher, Crown Crystal | ||
![]() | ![]() | What's the difference between the Kookaburra and Kingfisher pieces? The Kookaburra sits on a thick branch and the tail feathers are more obvious (as shown far left) while the Kingfisher sits on a thin branch. |
![]() | ![]() |
The Australian Kingfisher and Kookaburra pieces are similar, both with a large-billed bird sitting on a short branch within a floral background. They are seen in 9-inch and 5-inch bowls, mostly with 12 ruffles, and a larger float bowl. There are several pattern variations; Kookaburra pieces usually sell for somewhat more than the Kingfisher, although auctioneers don't always identify them correctly. The ice cream shaped bowl above left, actually a Kookaburra Variant, sold for $1,950 in 1999. Above right is a typical marigold ruffled sauce. Kingfisher is probably the most widely found Australian pattern. Fake Kingfisher sauces are known.
A good source for information on the nuances between the various Kookaburra and Kingfisher patterns is Glen and Stephen Thistlewood's website: Thistlewood Australian glass Hartung Book Six: Kookaburra Hartung Book Six: Kingfisher Hartung Book Eight: Kookaburra Variant |
Kookaburra bowls, 9-10 inches, ruffled![]() Marigold, 300 (2014), 600 (2020), 150 (2021), 50, 140 (both 2022) ![]() Marigold, with butterfly and waratah, 500 (2015) ![]() ![]() Marigold, with fern & wattle, 1,000 (2021) ![]() ![]() Purple, 475 (2020), 175 (2021), 230 (2022) | Kookaburra sauces, about 5 inches, ruffled![]() Marigold, 80, 180 (both 2016), 70 (2017), 40 (2020) ![]() Purple, 200 (2016), 250 (2019), 225 (2020), 210 (2021) |
Kingfisher bowls, 9 to 10 inches, ruffled![]() Marigold, 35, 180, 425 (all 2019), 45, 275 (both 2020), 50, 65, 105, 130 (all 2021) ![]() Marigold, with wattle spray, 250 (2015) ![]() Purple or dark, 85, 180, 195 (all 2019), 95, 190, 375 (all 2020), 65, 100, 130, 170, 425 (all 2021), 50, 180 (both 2022) ![]() Purple, with berries in leaves, 280 (2021) ![]() Purple, with wattle spray, 175, 225 (both 2015) | Kingfisher sauces, about 5 inches, ruffled![]() Marigold, 55, 85 (both 2016), 80 (2018), 20 (2020) ![]() Marigold, with wattle spray, 210 (2015) ![]() Purple, 70, 75 (both 2019), 30 (2020), 45, 80, 90, 105 (all 2021), 45, 150 (both 2022) ![]() Purple, with wattle spray, 65, 100 (both 2015) |
![]() | This 10 1/2 inch Kookaburra float bowl brought $750 in 1998. Another brought $1,000 in 2004. In 2018 a marigold example brought $475.
In 2019 an eleven-inch float bowl in purple sold for $3,000 with a Broken Chain back. In 2020, float bowls in dark sold for $1,900 and $2,400. In 2021, 2 more sold for $1,150 and $1,300. A 9-inch ice cream shaped bowl listed as a variant, $1,300. Also in 2021, a dark marigold float bowl sold for $3,000. |
![]() | Another version of the large float bowl in purple. this ruffled example sold for $8,250 in 2010; another ruffled version (or perhaps the same piece) sold in 2005 for $2,650. There has been a resurgence in interest in Australian Carnival in the past few years. |
![]() | This large bowl is thought to be a one-of-a-kind test for the lettering. The bird actually represents a Kingfisher, but the lettering reads "Australian Kookaburra." In marigold, it sold for $13,500 in 2015. Photo courtesy of Mickey Reichel Auctions.
Updated 5/23/2022 |