AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a highly detailed, hand-painted resin sculpture titled 'Closed for the Season' from the Country Artists collection. The figurine depicts a young, white snowy owl perched atop a textured tree stump, looking down with large, expressive dark glass-like eyes at a small brown mouse on the ground below. The owl's feathers are intricately rendered with a fine, stippled texture to simulate the appearance of down, while the mouse features fine brushwork to suggest fur. The base of the sculpture mimics a rocky, moss-covered terrain in shades of pale green and beige. The entire sculptural element is mounted on a circular, dark-stained wooden plinth. Beside the main figurine sits a separate, smaller miniature owl token, likely a signature extra included with this specific collection. The craftsmanship reflects the high quality characteristic of Country Artists (formerly of Stratford-upon-Avon, UK), produced primarily in the late 20th to early 21st century. The piece appears to be in excellent condition with no visible chips, cracks, or fading of the pigments, maintaining a crisp level of detail in the textures.

I have examined the images of this Country Artists 'Closed for the Season' figurine, featuring a snowy owl and mouse. Based on visual inspection, the piece appears to be an authentic example from the Stratford-upon-Avon manufacturers, known for their high-quality resin wildlife sculptures. The texturing on the owl's plumage is consistent with Country Artists' standard production quality, particularly the fine stippling used to mimic downy feathers. The inclusion of the dark wooden plinth and the separate miniature owl token—often a 'collector's gift' or loyalty token—adds completeness to the lot. The condition appears excellent; I observe no chips on the delicate ear tufts or beak, common stress points for these resin pieces. The paintwork retains its subtlety without visible sun fading. However, full authentication would require physical handling to check for restoration work under UV light and to verify the felt base and original identifying labels or gold stickers, which are not visible in the photos. In the current secondary market, Country Artists figurines have seen a stabilization in value after a decline from their retail peaks in the 1990s/2000s. While 'Closed for the Season' is a charming and detailed model, it is not among the rarest limited editions. Comparable sales for similar medium-sized owl studies typically land between $40 and $70 USD, provided they are in mint condition like this one appears to be. The presence of the original box would push the value toward the higher end of this estimate, while the unboxed figure alone sits more conservatively in the middle.