Unknown Italian manufacturer, 50s-60s, 34.25cm

This fine fellow is a bit of a mystery. The only thing I know about him is he is an Italian-made decanter of sorts; the base markings confirm Italy, while an image of him I found a long time ago paired with two matching handled cups confirms he was part of a set made for libations. Which libations were meant to emanate from this rare bird (?) are unknown, but I do know he probably dominated whatever table he was placed upon. Tall, with a piercing and uncompromising glare and striking gray and yellow plumage, he is a force to be reckoned with — as I found out when I took him to an antiques show, where the neighboring vendor asked me to orient him away from her. Why, I asked? He won’t stop looking at me, she answered. Hmmm… mysterious AND intimidating! Maybe he is a distant cousin of the Maltese Falcon…