16th Apr, 2025 10:30 GMT/BST
Natural History & Taxidermy
242
Skeletons/Anatomy: Extinct Cave Bear Skeleton (†Ursus spelaeus), Late Pleistocene era, classed extinct around 24,000 years ago, a large full adult skeleton with front legs outstretched, mounted upon an ebonised metal supporting base, overall height 222cm. Cave bears inhabited Europe, Eastern Europe and parts of Asia until they went extinct at the end of the last Ice Age. As shown by the archaeological record, they were contemporaries of modern humans: many cave sites show signs of competition between cave bears and humans as the two species battled for shelter for thousands of years. Evidence shows that both Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons hunted cave bears; scientists theorize that the demise of the cave bear may have been, in part, due to human hunting. Previously for the last 15 years part of a display at a Portsmouth museum
Sold for £17,000
Estimated at £5,000 - £7,000
One rib detached but present, two ribs on the left side have been glued together
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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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