20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
Taxidermy: A Late Victorian Cased Colour Morph Skylark (Alauda arvensis), dated 1893, an unusual colour morphed full mount adult male in flying pose with wings outstretched, amidst a natural setting of daisies, moss and grasses, mounted above pebbled groundwork, set against a watercolour painted sky back drop, enclosed within a typical period ebonised three-glass display case, 31cm by 13.5cm by 32.5cm, bearing handwritten label to front glass - Sky-Lark ♂ var, (Alauda arvensis), Waterbeach, Cambs, November 18th, 1893.
Sold for £350
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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