For a long time, eBay sellers, and others, have tried to use the YZ reputation to sell non-YZ products. Often, such products have shown a good quality of workmanship, though very, very few have achieved a YZ standard. I have already written in the YZ blog about the random use of the YZ name in an attempt to authenticate birds for sale but the problem continues.

"This is an Art Deco piece dating from the 1930’s. It is in the style of the Dunhill distributed YZ birds."

That's absolutely fine. It is in that style and it's reasonable to use 'YZ' as a pick up for a search. Though there's absolutely no valid reason to mention Dunhill.

"An Art Deco YZ nut bird ashtray with Bakelite/phenolic feet."

It's not YZ of course, just a blatant attempt to draw in more bid money. It probably didn't help - the piece sold for £10.67.

It is now common to use a Dunhill link, presumably in an attempt to further enhance the price realised. It is stated elsewhere on this site that: 'The YZ-branded range of novelties was produced by Henry Howell and Company Ltd and, for a two year period, they were sold by Alfred Dunhill Ltd, well known for their high-quality pipes and lighters.' To repeat, for a two year period, they were sold by Alfred Dunhill Ltd. Since the YZ range was in production for twelve years (1924-1936), the chances of a YZ item having been retailed by Dunhill are really quite slim. But why let inconsequential considerations like facts get in the way of a selling opportunity?

Surely, though, anybody desperate to own something Dunhill would buy a lighter or a packet of cigarettes rather than a YZ item with absolutely no link with Dunhill.

"this item is a very nice, and rare, dunhill YZ nut bird ashtray with scratch pad and vesta hole for the matches"

Well, it must be rare. It's the only YZ bird in the world marked 'MADE IN ENGLAND' 'NOVELTIC' 'REG. TRADE MARK' on the base. Or rather, it would be rare if it were YZ. Strangely though, it was made by Noveltic - there was a bit of a hint there in what was stamped on the base - and they're certainly not rare.

In fairness to this seller though, he withdrew the item as soon as he realised the mistake:

"Art Deco Dunhill YZ Nutbird Woodpecker Ashtray in a worn condition missing one eye and chips to top of head"

"Rare Dunhill YZ nut bird smokers companion for restoration"

"on offer we have a yz nutbird made by henry howell and dunhill"

Henry Howell & Co Ltd were quite capable of making their own birds - they needed no help from Dunhill.

Recently, sellers, like the one above, have begun to quote this site to justify their claims of 'YZness'. I have absolutely no problem with that (providing there is no parallel association of 'Dunhillness'!) - in fact I'll happily, where possible, confirm authenticity (though not value) if the seller sends an image of the piece. I do, though, object to this site being misquoted or otherwise used to justify a misleading description if there is a clear intention to mislead, rather than simply a misunderstanding or misreading leading to inaccuracy.

For some reason, this seller feels that these YZ birds and the bell above are so lacking in quality and craftsmanship that they need the Dunhill name to draw in bidders. They're certainly not and they certainly don't!

A nice piece - but YZ? It's not unthinkable, given the quality, but I doubt it - the eyes aren't YZ eyes and the carving on the beak lacks the subtlety of YZ. What I can say for sure though is that it has almost certainly never had any connection with Dunhill. I suspect that the price it achieved (£160) related more to its phenolic resin content than to its shaky provenance.

Spot on! These unmarked examples are definitely not.

"There are no marks on base,but could be YZ Dunhill,as some were not marked"

There are no marks on my dog's pads either. Does that mean he could be YZ? Or, more lucrative still, that incredibly rare beast, the YZ Dunhill? I'll list him tomorrow.

"We offer this delightful Art Deco Dunhill Nutbird ashtray made by YZ and dating from the 1930’s. While these pieces are often marked to the base this example has an original brown velvet pad attached. Made by YZ for Dunhill although no apparent makers marks as shown but possibly under the velvet"

A possibly successful con this time. This non-YZ bird sold for £55 - to my mind, that's well above its value in the current market.

"Vintage old YZ Nutbird Desk Stand , Inkwell Set....retailed by Dunhill"

"Unmarked but clearly YZ ..not all are marked..see the YZ Site"

Yes, this one really is YZ. It may even have been retailed by Dunhill but there's absolutely no way of knowing.

"1900 dunhill bookends"

Brand: YZ? Hardly! Not 1900, not Dunhill either. But this seller wasn't completely wrong. They are bookends.

"Lovely little chap with cheery colours - I think he may be a type of yz"

This description's fair enough - certainly no attempt at deception - and I appreciate the need to increase the search hits with a YZ mention but, "Decide for yourself whether or not he's YZ" would achieve the same end. Yes, he is a lovely little chap and the colours are cheery (I'd be happy to have him in my collection) but no, he's not even close to being YZ.

"Probably YZ Dunhill - 1930's, but stamped into base, 'JU.JU'."

I must be missing something here. How does a 'JU.JU' mark indicate any connection with YZ or (and here we go again) Dunhill? More like Duh! Duh!

"1.YZ BIRD NUT MATCH STRIKER ASHTRAY MADE IN ENGLAND NOVELTIO
2.YZ NUT BIRDS ASHTRAY"

Attempting to Italianise the 'Noveltic' trademark does nothing to miraculously turn this into a YZ bird. The two birds ashtray isn't YZ either. Nice piece though.

But It's Not All eBay

"Marked only British made but probably made by Henry Howell and company who made the Nut birds that retailed with the Dunhill company."

Rubbish! Not even possibly made by Henry Howell and company. If, Sheryl, you can prove a Howell link, or even provide reasonable evidence suggesting such a link, I'll put online a one hundred page sosorrysheryl.com website, with a grovelling apology for ever doubting you on every page. And, as for dragging along poor old Alfred D in an attempt to lend some weight to this wild assertion....................

"This punk bird is an unsigned Dunhill nutbird, Marked 'Ebony' to the base as the body is made of macassar ebony."

YZ yes, despite the lack of a mark, but Dunhill? Possibly retailed by Dunhill (the Pelican was one of the YZ items in Dunhill's catalogues) but only if it was made between 1925 and 1927, when a relationship between YZ and Dunhill existed.

"YZ Nutbird Ashtray"

Don't be silly. Of course it isn't.

"Cute Nut bird ashtray (I have several Nut bird items) unmarked but probably made by Henry Howell and company who made the Nut birds that retailed with the Dunhill company."

This is really pushing the con boundary! This is Noveltic. I know it, Sheryl should know it - she's sold them in the past. And there's almost certainly a Noveltic mark on the base - invisible of course to those who prefer not to see it.

"Dunhill style Nut bird, made by the same makers as the Dunhill items (Henry Howell and Co)."

Absolutely certain about the makers of this one then? So am I - despite the uncharacteristically elongated head and beak, it's Noveltic (again). And, unless it's been sandpapered out, my guess is that, on the base, no matter how faint, is the Noveltic mark.

"Marked to the base YZ made in England. These cute little items war (stet) made by YZ for the Dunhill lighter company."

YZ yes, Dunhill why?

"This is one of the YZ nutbird items made for the Dunhill lighter company."

Ditto.

"Huge Dunhill Nutbird Table Lamp"

"Under the base is marked YZ trade mark, made in England. This is the mark for the Dunhill lighter company YZ nut birds range."

Difficult though this may be to understand, the YZ mark is the mark for the range of YZ Novelties, manufactured by Henry Howell & Co Ltd. At a guess, the mark for 'the Dunhill lighter company' would be 'Dunhill'. The clue's in the name.

Now back to eBay and a few dredged up from their archives

"Dunhill YZ bird made by Henry Howell 1930s 40s. Very rare ashtray."

This is not typical in that it uses a single, small, poorly focused image but the accompanying sales pitch uses the all too familiar Dunhill assertion. It is, of course, not YZ.

"Appealing little animal nut bird.Probably made by the Henry Howell factory for Dunhill,though not stamped as such."

Doesn't look like YZ quality to me. Maybe the image doesn't do it justice but, to even consider buying it online as YZ, I'd need the YZ mark. HH did make a similar character (see right) which they christened 'Nutcracker' (so let's assume it's a squirrel) but, even in this small B&W image, the quality simply shines through.

"Probably made by the Henry Howell factory for Dunhill,though not stamped as such."

This is a prime example of the triumph of hope over idiocy.

"A Fantastic Dunhill YZ Phenolic Nutbird Dinner Gong Marked YZ Made in England as you may well know designed by Henry Howell"

No, I didn't know that. I did, though, know that the YZ range was designed by Bernard Howell. Just as well he was around really, since Henry Howell wasn't up to bird design by the 20s and 30s - he died in 1888. The fact that Dunhill made YZ birds came as a bit of a shock but I'll be OK in a week or two. It is YZ though so no attempt to mislead the buyer.

"a vintage 1920s/30s henry howell nut bird pen or match holder . the holder which was retailed through dunhill is made from a section of branch"

I can't make up my mind whether this seller is stupid, naive, or simply very, very stupidly naive.

"HERE IS AN ART DECO DUNHILL YZ NUT BIRD POSSIBLY MADE BY HENRY HOWELL"

If it's a YZ bird (which it is) then it's definitely made by Henry Howell - so why even consider attributing it to Dunhill?

"item attributed to Henry Howell and Co who made items for Alfred Dunhill in the 1920s and 30s.The bird is nicely carved with nuts making up its body.It has a cherry red coloured phenolic resin beak,glass eyes, and feet carved from nut shell.All these things say to me Henry Howell"

"I have seen items attrbuted to Dunhill by this maker such as ash trays,pipe racks, and even book ends, but never anything similar to this.Please note that it does not have the Alfred Dunhill YZ trademark on it"

"I have been informed by a relative of Henry Howell who says that in his opinion my little bird is not a piece of his grandfathers work and that the YZ trade mark was his familys mark and not Alfred Dunhills.However he likes this item saying its quite nice."

Damned by faint praise! An admirably restrained and diplomatic response from Chris Howell.

"It is unmarked but the superb quality and finish makes it almost certainly from the YZ craft shop of Henry Howell and it may have been made for Dunhill."

No comment!!!

"YZ “smokers requisites” were manufactured by Henry Howell & Co of London between 1925 and 1936 for Alfred Dunhill."

One day, somebody might just pick up on the message that the YZ/Dunhill link was a short-lived one. Between 1925 and 1927 only.

"An art deco bird ashtray possibly by Henry Howell & Co from their YZ range and retailed by Dunhill."

Nice try but no cigar!