A Masterclass in Kingfisher and Kookaburra Identification - Peter Phillips
In this fascinating series of photos, Peter Phillips illustrates and describes the differences between the most frequently misidentified Crown Crystal Carnival patterns – the Kingfisher and the Kookaburra - on the small 5 inch nappy bowls (a nappy is a small dish or berry bowl).
These images and the accompanying text was first shown in our Carnival NetworK Group on Facebook in July 2019, and Peter has kindly allowed us to feature them all here in this permanent location. As he explained, these are “probably the most confusing of our Aussie nappy bowls. So many times, the Kingfisher and Kookaburra are misidentified … and to add to the mix, there are also variants of both patterns”.
All the following photographs are courtesy and Copyright of Peter Phillips.
KINGFISHER
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The Kingfisher nappy bowl has the bird sitting on a thin twig surrounded by a wreath of leafy twigs. It has the Registered Design number RD 4184. Right: Kingfisher nappy in marigold. 
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Left: Kingfisher nappy in dark (black amethyst). |
A pair of Kingfisher nappies in dark and marigold.
KINGFISHER VARIANT
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The Kingfisher Variant is the same as the Kingfisher but with the addition of the wattle (also sometimes referred to as Gum nuts) to the wreath of leaves and twigs that encircle the central bird design. It also has the Registration Design number RD 4184. Right: Kingfisher Variant nappy in marigold. 
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Left: Kingfisher Variant nappy in dark (black amethyst). |
A pair of Kingfisher Variant nappies in dark and marigold.
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KOOKABURRA
The Kookaburra has a much much substantial looking bird ... with a thicker beak, much more detailed (on a good example) and it’s sitting on a thicker twig or branch. The wreath around the bird is also has much more detail, with wattle flowers on leafy twigs, waratah flowers are also added. Often hard to see at the bottom of the floral wreath is a tiny butterfly, it’s often partial hidden due to the shaping of the ruffle on the edge of the bowl. Overall a much more detailed pattern than the Kingfisher. It also has the Registered Design number RD 4184. Right: Kookaburra nappy in marigold. 
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Left: Kookaburra nappy in dark (black amethyst). |
A pair of Kookaburra nappies in dark and marigold.
KOOKABURRA VARIANT
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Now for the hardest to find of all of the Kingfisher and Kookaburra nappy bowls...the Kookaburra Variant, which appears to be a version somewhere between the Kingfisher Variant and the Kookaburra. It has the floral wreath with the wattle flowers, just like the Kingfisher Variant, but it also has the more detailed and stockier bird sitting in a thicker branch like the Kookaburra. It also had the Registered Design number RD 4184 Right: Kookaburra Variant nappy in marigold. 
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Left: Kookaburra Variant nappy in marigold. |
A pair of Kookaburra Variant nappies in dark and marigold.
Side by side comparison.
KINGFISHER
KOOKABURRA
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KINGFISHER VARIANT
KOOKABURRA VARIANT
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Sincere thanks to Peter Phillips for this “masterclass” – all photos are copyright and courtesy Peter Phillips.
Further Reading.
Read our Collectors Facts page where we explore the development of the Kingfisher / Kookaburra designs from the rare (and probably experimental) "Australian Kookaburra") Lettered bowl. Here is the link: The Kookaburra / Kingfisher design mystery
A word of caution: there are known fakes of the Kingfisher 5 inch nappy bowls, but it is straightforward to spot them. They are identified here: Kingfisher Fake nappy bowls.
Read our Collectors Facts page where we explore the development of the Kingfisher / Kookaburra designs from the rare (and probably experimental) "Australian Kookaburra") Lettered bowl. Here is the link: The Kookaburra / Kingfisher design mystery
A word of caution: there are known fakes of the Kingfisher 5 inch nappy bowls, but it is straightforward to spot them. They are identified here: Kingfisher Fake nappy bowls.