20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
The James Harrison Collection of Birds
111
Taxidermy: A Large Late Victorian Case of Seagulls, dated 1887-1888, England, an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull stood upon a painted faux rock ledge, above a large adult Greater Black-backed Gull stood with head slightly lowered, a Black-headed Gull to the lower left corner, all mounted upon painted faux rockwork, amidst a natural setting of tall grasses and fauna, set against a pale blue watercolour sky painted back drop, enclosed within a typical period ebonised three-glass display case, 86.5cm by 35.5cm by 76.5cm, bearing data label to interior lower left - England, Great Black-backed Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gull, shot by T. Parkin in St Ive's Bay, Cornwall, in 1888, also a Black-headed Gull, shot by the same person at Dungeness Point, Romney Marsh, Kent, in 1887.
Sold for £450
Estimated at £250 - £350
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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