Natural History

The natural world has always amazed humans and has been of great inspiration to all cultures. Starting from the 15th century onwards, the famous Cabinets of Curiosities, or Wunderkammers, appeared in the houses of the nobility and rich merchants in Europe.  The idea of such Cabinets or rooms was that the owner should feel as if he was the centre of the universe, surrounded by all the elements. The Wunderkammers were filled with miracles of the natural world such as fine coral specimens, fossils, minerals, gemstones, taxidermy, shells and much more. Some of the pieces were highly sought after and a lively trade commenced. 

In the 19th century, especially in Victorian England, there was a great urge for a scientific approach to the natural world, driven by scientists such as Charles Darwin. Animals in their natural habitat were observed and described, and soon there was a great desire for taxidermy, as the people 'at home' who could never see these creatures in real life wished them close by. Victorian taxidermy is prized for beautiful display cabinets or glass domes, showing animals in their habitat, perfectly sculpted and naturalistically modelled. 

Zebregs&Röell highly values the natural world, and therefore only trades in antique specimens or animals that died of natural cause. We hope that these might spark a bit of love for the natural world. We value the pieces that are already there, hunted and made in a time the human race thought mother nature was inexhaustible, we are against hunting for pleasure or for new taxidermy.

Please note that all our pieces come with a 'pre-1947 statement' or CITES-documents and we strictly abide international and national nature conservation laws - we are glad to be of service with obtaining CITES documents, although purchasing is at your own responsibility.  

A taxidermy Loggerhead seaturtle (Caretta caretta)

Early 20th century

AN EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTREMELY RARE VICTORIAN GILT-WOOD FIRE SCREEN WITH TAXIDERMY HUMMINGBIRDS BY AND LABELLED FOR HENRY WARD (1812-1878)

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England, third quarter 19th century

A display cabinet with taxidermy hummingbirds attributed to Rowland Ward (1848-1912)
Late 19th/early 20th century

(sold)

A Victorian dome with taxidermy Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
19th century

An extremely rare Victorian taxidermy Pygmee three-toed Sloth (Bradypus pygmaeus) or Escudo-island Sloth by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

A small taxidermy Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)

Early 20th century

A massive Victorian taxidermy Loggerhead seaturtle (Caretta caretta) measuring over 170 cm

Late 19th century

A Victorian taxidermy Saki monkey

(sold)

An extremely large Shikar taxidermy tiger (Panthera tigris) by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore

India, circa 1931, taken on 16/3/1931 by John. H. Gardiner esq., Central Indian Horse Regiment, Delhi

A fine Victorian taxidermy Himalaya Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) by Edward Gerrard & Sons

Late 19th century

A charming taxidermy Sunda Pangolin
Early 20th century

A well preserved Shikar tiger skin rug by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore India

Early 20th century

Find our complete collection of taxidermy by Van Ingen & Van Ingen

A Victorian dome with taxidermy Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrot (Amazona oratrix)
Early 20th century

A taxidermy display cabinet with Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) and a Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

Late 19th/early 20th century

A rare taxidermy Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)

20th century

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(sold)

An extremely large taxidermy Giant African Pangolin (Manis Gigantea) measuring 125 cm long

18th/19th century

A taxidermy display cabinet with Raggiana's Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea raggiana) by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

Late 19th century

A pair of taxidermy puffins (Fratercula arctica)
Early 20th century

A Victorian dome with taxidermy Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda), hummingbirds, tanagers and cotinga

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19th century

An unusually large taxidermy Nile Crocodile measuring 350 cm long

Africa, 2005, including CITES-documents

A large taxidermy Nile Crocodile measuring 250 cm long

Africa, 2005, including CITES-documents

A splendid and vividly coloured Victorian dome with taxidermy Cock-of-the-Rock, Pompadour Cotinga, tanagers and rare hummingbirds

19th century

(sold)

A Victorian dome with taxidermy Ring-necked parakeet

19th century

A seldomly seen large taxidermy California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) possibly by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

Provenance:
Museum Collection, United Kingdom

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(sold)

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A Victorian dome with taxidermy Cotton-eared Tamarind mother and babies

A collection of scrimshaw Giant Arrau River Turtle Shells

19th century

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A pair of Leopard tortoise carapaces
Late 19th/early 20th century

A pair of extremely rare taxidermy tiger heads by VanIngen&VanIngen, Mysore

India, 1935, shot by Prince of Teck, the Duke of Athlone

An upper jaw of a Walrus

Including CITES paperwork

(sold)

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A taxidermy African Rainforest Tree pangolin (Manis Tricuspis) 

19th Century 

Provenance:

Private collection, Belgium

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(sold)

A taxidermy African leopard tortoise shell

19th century

A rare Victorian taxidermy Colobus Monkey (Colobus Angolensis) by Rowland Ward

19th century

(sold)
 

A 'Scrimshaw' Giant Amazon Riverturtle shell

19th century

(sold)

A charming Edwardian taxidermy display case with Heron and Curlew

Early 20th century

An Edwardian Cased Grey Headed Wattled Lapwing (Microsarcops cinereus) by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)
Circa 1906

A free-standing taxidermy Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra)
20th century

A taxidermy Capuchin monkey (Cebinae)

Early 20th century

A Victorian dome with taxidermy mostly Australian birds
19th century

(sold)

A Victorian dome with taxidermy tropical birds
19th century

(sold)

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A rare Victorian taxidermy hooded Peregrine Falcion (Falco peregrinus) 

Circa 1880-1890
(sold)

A fine taxidermy Himalayan Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) by Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

Circa 1870

An antique dated Sawfish rostrum

Australia, 9 april 1922

A very large taxidermy African Spurred tortoiseshell

20th century, kept as a pet

(sold)

A taxidermy African Giant Pangolin (Manis Gigantea)

Late 19th century

A Victorian taxidermy Gharial wall-bracket

Late 19th century
(sold)

An extremely rare antique taxidermy Sunda Slow Loris (Nyctiabus Coucang)

(sold)

A taxidermy African Giant Pangolin (Manis Gigantea)
19th century

(sold)

A taxidermy tortoise shell

Early 20th century

(sold)

A charming taxidermy Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus)

19th century

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(sold)

A fine taxidermy tiger skin rug (Panthera tigris) by the famous VanIngen&VanIngen, Mysore

Circa 1946, taken by T.G. Macneill, Rehabari, Northern Assam, North Eastern India, 23/02/1946

A collection of scrimshaw Giant Arrau River Turtle Shells
19th century
 

A taxidermy red-footed tortoise shell (Chelonoidis carbonarius)

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Early 20th century (with certificate)

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(sold)

An extremely large tiger skin rug (Panthera tigris) by the famous VanIngen&VanIngen, Mysore, measuring approx. 310 cm long

Early 20th century

A pair of Radiated Tortoiseshells (Astrochelys radiata)

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(sold)

A large taxidermy Asian Pangolin (manis)
Late 19th/early 20th century

A very rare taxidermy Linneaus' two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) labelled for Rowland Ward (1848-1912)

Possibly early 20th century

(sold)

A taxidermy Tamandua or Tree Ant-Eater

(possibly Tamandua Mexicana)

Early 20th century

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(sold)

A taxidermy Sundanese pangolin (Manis Javanica)

Late 19th/early 20th century

A very impressive taxidermy Great Argus Pheasant

21st century, mounted by Zoologisk konservator Mikkel Carlsen (Denmark)

A Victorian display case with taxidermy Turaco birds, labelled for and by George F. Butt for Rowland Ward

Late 19th/early 20th century 

An extraordinary Narwhal tusk

Greenland, late 19th/early 20th century

(sold)

A collection of high-quality gems and minerals

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20/21st century

A charming taxidermy Humboldt Penguin couple (Spheniscus humboldti)

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Late 19th/early 20th century

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(sold)

A taxidermy Java or Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)

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21st century

(sold)

A collection of tortoise and terapin shells

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(sold)

An exquisite large piece of red coral (Corallium Rubrum)

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1st half 20th century

Provenance:
Lt. Commander W.E Darwall 

(sold)

A taxidermy Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)

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20th century

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(sold)

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A very large Edwardian display case with European sea-birds 

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Early 20th century

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A very large group of ammonites

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180 million years B.C.

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A Victorian taxidermy dome with Indian Roller birds (Coracias benghalensis)

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19th century

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A taxidermy pangolin (manis)

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Late 19th/early 20th century

Provenance:
Collection HBS School, Amsterdam

(sold)

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A taxidermy Ostrich (Struthio camelus)

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Early 20th century

A Victorian display wall case with taxidermy hummingbirds (trochillidae)

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19th century

A charming Victorian glass dome with taxidermy hummingbirds by and labelled for Henry Ward (1812-1878)

Circa 1850

(sold)

A French glass dome with taxidermy South-American tropical birds

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Late 19th century

(sold)

A vibrantly coloured taxidermy Himalayan Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus) 

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20th century

A pair of extremely rare Victorian display cabinets with taxidermy Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno), cotinga and hummingbirds, attributed to Henry Ward (1812-1878)

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Late 19th century

A taxidermy Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)

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20th century

A taxidermy Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)

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20th century

(sold)

A large French glass dome with taxidermy tropical African birds

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19th century

(sold)

"It is natural that one wishes to surround himself with animals, that one quite possibly will never see in real life"

- Sir David Attenborough

An extremely rare Australian victorian display cabinet with birds of paradise by Jane Catherine Ward (1817-1889)

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Sydney, 1880/90

A highly unusual Victorian case with several South-American birds, a.o. a Quetzal and Cock-of-the-rock on the side of a tree, by and labelled for H.N. Pashley of Clay, Norfolk

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Dated 1896
 

A taxidermy Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)

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20th century

(sold)

A French glass dome with taxidermy South-American birds, a.o. a Cock-of-the-rock and several cotinga

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Late 19th century

(sold)

A Victorian glass dome with taxidermy tropical birds

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Circa 1850

(sold)

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Do you wish to sell taxidermy?