20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
The James Harrison Collection of Birds
98
Taxidermy: A Late Victorian Cased Colour Morph Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella), dated 1894, an unusual colour morphed full mount adult female, perched upon a small branch, issuing from painted faux rockwork beneath, amidst a natural setting of short grasses, set against a watercolour painted sky interior, enclosed within a typical period ebonised single-glass display case, 18.5cm by 8cm by 19cm, bearing handwritten label to front glass - Yellow Bunting ♀ var, (Emberiza citrinella), Barton, Cambs, April 1st 1894.
Sold for £320
Estimated at £120 - £180
Auction: The James Harrison Collection of Birds, 20th May, 2022
The James Harrison Collection comprises over 200 lots of cased and freemount birds dating from the late Victorian era to the middle of the 20th century. The collection includes rare and unusual examples, such as a passenger pigeon and a kiwi, as well as mounts by the likes of Rowland Ward, James Gardner, Charles Kirk and George Bristow.
James Maurice Harrison (1892-1971) was an ornithologist and one of the last great bird collectors, who gathered large numbers of specimens to study moult patterns, distribution, geographical and colour variation within and between species. A GP by profession, Harrison filled his family home and Doctor's Surgery, Bowerwood House in Kent, with his extraordinary collection.
Viewing
Wednesday 18th May 10:00am - 4:00pm, Thursday 19th May 10:00am - 4:00pm, and the morning of the sale from 8am. Viewing is open to the public, there is no need to make an appointment.
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