20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
The James Harrison Collection of Birds
130
Taxidermy: A Velvet Scoter Duck (Melanitta fusca), dated 1924, labelled Charles Kirk (1872-1922), Taxidermist, 56-58 Great Western Street, Glasgow, a high quality full mount adult drake with head turing down and to the right, with right wing slightly raised in preening pose, mounted upon a typical period square base, overall height 31cm, with attached data label - Velvet Scoter, Male Adult, 14th 1st 1924, Romney Marsh, Kent, bearing taxidermist's full paper trade label to underside, dated 1924, interestingly this specimen is dated two years after the death of Charles Kirk who passed away at the relatively young age of 50, the company continued trading after his death by his business partner David Wotherspoon until 1928, at which time he went to work at the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh. Previously part of the Dr A, McMillan collection of Romney, Kent, who bequeathed his collection to Dr James Harrison upon his death.
Sold for £150
Estimated at £150 - £200
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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