20th May, 2022 10:30 GMT/BST
The James Harrison Collection of Birds
27
Taxidermy: An Early 20th Century Cased Eider Duck (Somateria mollissima), dated 1921, by James Harrison, Sevenoaks, Kent, a full mount juvenile female with head turning to the left, stood upon an island seaweed covered rock, above a simulated sandy beach, set against a sky blue watercolour painted back drop, enclosed within a typical period ebonised three-glass display case, 61cm by 27.5cm by 60cm, bearing data label to verso - Somateria mollissima, December 6th 1921, Rye Harbour, Rye, Sussex.
Sold for £40
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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