16th Apr, 2025 10:30 GMT/BST
Natural History & Taxidermy
221
Natural History: A Desiccated or Mummified Cat, circa 18th-19th century, a full mount desiccated or mummified cat, in recumbent position, length 38cm. In the British Isles, as well as in Northern Europe and North America, the dried or mummified bodies of cats are frequently found concealed within structures and are believed to have been placed there to bring good luck or to protect the building and its occupants from harm. The North American instances are strongly associated with European households and are most often found in buildings where shoes and witch bottles are also concealed. Sometimes when the animals are discovered, as in the case of a mummified cat and kittens, it might be assumed that the animal was just accidentally there and got stuck. However, there are times when the animals are found in locations that it would have been impossible for them to have gotten into accidentally such as being encased in a brick cavity
Sold for £140
Estimated at £150 - £250
Auction: Natural History & Taxidermy, 16th Apr, 2025
Lots 1-33
Roger Stanfield (1950-2024) was born in Lincolnshire, and held a great love of nature, particularly birds, from a young age. Over the years he worked at several small zoos, including Bristol Zoo where he was a lead zookeeper. In this role, he was charged with the care of a large variety of exotic birds. His knowledge of birds was furthered on numerous bird watching holidays, and over the years he greatly enjoyed travelling to the likes of India and Peru, as well as travelling all over Europe. In later years, Roger qualified as a joiner and carpenter and was very talented with woodwork. He also adored drawing and painting birds and even dabbled in taxidermy himself. He would make his own bird cases, painting appropriate naturalistic scenery and shrubbery. Roger was a regular buyer at Tennants and loved the thrill of bidding and buying birds at auction, as well as enjoying sharing his vast knowledge of birds with specialist Robbie Bright. (Lots 1-33 to be sold without reserves).
Lots 283-294
Dean Field always had a love for nature and then outdoors, which extended to a fascination with taxidermy. In 1983 he met A.J. Armitstead (Tony), the renowned Darlington-based taxidermist, and the pair became lifelong friends. Over the years, Dean commissioned numerous pieces, and greatly admired Armitstead’s ability to create such beautiful, naturalistic scenes and poses of the specimens. Whilst Dean collected taxidermy from a variety of makers in his early years of collecting, he later focussed purely on Armitstead’s work, appreciating the way he captured animals like no other. He slowly replaced pieces in his collection by other artists with those by Armitstead. His collection became a showcase for Armitstead’s work, comprising more than 170 cases. For Dean, taxidermy brought the animals and birds he loved so much into his own home.
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Tuesday 15th April 10am-5pm and the morning of the sale from 8am.
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