Chalk Ware Hen on Nest Still Bank, from France

This chalk ware still bank of a hen sitting on her nest is from France. The base measures 3" x 2 ⅜". It is 5" from the hen's beak to her tail feathers and approximately 4" in height from the tip of her tail feathers to the base. The mold lines are partially visible. Chalk ware is created by pouring plaster into a mold. Since chalk ware is not fired, the pieces are painted with paint and not glaze, the latter of which needs firing. This piece is circa early to mid-1900s.

It is rare to find a still bank intact as many have been broken to extract the money.

*****Condition: Please note there are no cracks, but there are some areas of paint loss, white specks of paint, smudges of paint (Please see the next to last photo for the green paint on the nest.), and rough areas from the molding process. There also appears to be a small hole, measuring 1/16" on the tail. (Please see the last photo.), I don't believe this is damage that happened post-production but possibly an imperfection owing to the presence of an air bubble during the molding process. Still, I cannot be certain. Finally, the piece is well-worn and vintage. Please examine the photos carefully using the zoom function and do let me know if you'd like more as I'll be happy to oblige.

Thank you for looking.