13th Nov, 2024 10:30 GMT/BST
Natural History & Taxidermy
66
Natural History: A Replica Smilodon Skull (†Smilodon populator), a replica skull of Smilodon cat, mounted upon a simulated painted quartz rock stand, overall height 36cm, max width 46cm. More commonly known as the saber-toothed cat, it is a member of the Felidae family that went extinct around 10,000 years ago, towards the end of the last ice age. Although, frequently called a "tiger" Smilodon is not actually closely related to modern day tigers, or any modern day cat really. Smilodon fatalis grew up to 5-7 feet long and 3.5 feet high at the shoulder, weighing ~350-600 lbs. Originally, it was thought that the saber teeth were used to grapple and hold on to the prey, however they are not strong enough to do this and would result in a lot of broken teeth. It is now hypothesized that the saber teeth were used to deliver a mortal stab wound while the animal then waited for its prey to die. This skull is moulded from an original saber-toothed cat skull found at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles California, where more than 2,000 Smilodon individuals have been excavated
Sold for £250
Estimated at £150 - £200
Auction: Natural History & Taxidermy, 13th Nov, 2024
The November Natural History and Taxidermy Sale will offer a varied range of antique and good modern taxidermy, with examples by leading names such as Rowland Ward, Peter Spicer, Van Ingen & Van Ingen and more.
The sale will also feature two good private collections: the first being a sixty-lot private collection of bird and animal specimens including many by John Burton, Natural Craft Taxidermy, Gloucestershire; the second is the thirty-five-lot Robert Chinnery Collection. Chinnery is a well-known collector and dealer in taxidermy, and he has widely researched and authored books on the subject.
Also on offer will be four lots by Walter Potter of Bramber, Sussex, which were once included in Bonhams' 2003 auction of The Contents of Mr Potter's Museum of Curiosities held at Jamaica Inn, Cornwall. The auction comprised of 613 Lots of the interesting and World-famous Mr Walter Potter’s collection, previously housed within his very own museum at Bramber, Sussex.
Viewing
Sunday 10th November - Monday 11th November 11am-4pm, Tuesday 12th November 10am-5pm and the morning of the sale from 8am
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