5th Jun, 2015 10:00 GMT/BST
Scientific, Cameras & Natural History
328
An Extremely Important Taxidermy Case of Rare New Zealand Birds, circa 1862-1909, comprising Kakapo
George Sim, King Street, Aberdeen, 1884 Exhibition of Industry & Art, Aberdeen, Gold Medal
Kakapo, the ground-living flightless parrot, are almost extinct and are under intensive conservation on islands off the coast of New Zealand. As of March 2014 there were only 126 remaining. They only breed every 2-5 years and are susceptible to any natural extremes of climate conditions. Brown kiwi are protected and are classified as 'threatened- nationally vulnerable', with their populations declining by 4%/year.
George Sim set up shop in 1862 and died in 1909. There is extensive information on his taxidermy business in: Merle Patchett, 2010. Putting animals on display: geographies of taxidermy practice. University of Glasgow PhD thesis 2010. (downloadable as a pdf at http://theses.gla.ac.uk/2348/1/2010patchettphd.pdf) Patchett documents an extensive archive of George Sim's papers, so there is a possibility of tracing this particular item.
Sold for £10,500
Estimated at £7,000 - £10,000
Case good. All specimens subtly faded. Kiwi beak with aperture. Some staining to painted back panel, which has faded. 021014
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Auction: Scientific, Cameras & Natural History, 5th Jun, 2015
Scientific, Cameras & Natural History
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