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' - we are glad to be of service with obtaining CITES documents, although purchasing is at your own responsibility.
AN EXCEPTIONAL AND EXTREMELY RARE VICTORIAN GILT-WOOD FIRE SCREEN WITH TAXIDERMY HUMMINGBIRDS BY AND LABELLED FOR HENRY WARD (1812-1878)
England, third quarter 19th century
A rare taxidermy Brown Howler Monkey (Alouatta guariba) attributed to Rowland Ward (1848-1912)
Late 19th/early 20th century
A Victorian dome with taxidermy Greater Bird of Paradise (Paradisaea apoda), hummingbirds, tanagers and cotinga
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 taxidermy Tamandua Tree-Anteater
First half 20th century
A splendid and vividly coloured Victorian dome with taxidermy Cock-of-the-Rock, Pompadour Cotinga, tanagers and rare hummingbirds
19th century
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
(sold)
A Victorian dome with taxidermy Cotton-eared Tamarind mother and babies
An upper jaw of a Walrus
(sold)
A taxidermy African Rainforest Tree pangolin (Manis Tricuspis)
19th Century
Provenance:
Private collection, Belgium
A taxidermy African leopard tortoise shell
19th century
A rare Victorian taxidermy Colobus Monkey (Colobus Angolensis)
19th century
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)
A rare Victorian taxidermy hooded Peregrine Falcion (Falco peregrinus)
Circa 1880-1890
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
A taxidermy African Giant Pangolin (Manis Gigantea)
Late 19th century
An extremely rare antique taxidermy Sunda Slow Loris (Nyctiabus Coucang)
(sold)
A Victorian taxidermy Gharial wall-bracket
Late 19th century
A pair of Radiated Tortoiseshells (Astrochelys radiata)
(sold)
A large taxidermy Asian Pangolin (manis)
Late 19th/early 20th century
A very rare taxidermy Linneaus' two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus) by and labelled for Rowland Ward (1848-1912)
Late 19th/early 20th century
A taxidermy Tamandua or Tree Ant-Eater
(possibly Tamandua Mexicana)
Early 20th century
(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, 20th century
A collection of high-quality gems and minerals
20/21st century
A charming taxidermy Humboldt Penguin couple (Spheniscus humboldti)
Late 19th/early 20th century
A taxidermy Java or Green Peafowl (Pavo muticus)
21st century
A collection of tortoise and terapin shells
(sold)
An exquisite large piece of red coral (Corallium Rubrum)
1st half 20th century
Provenance:
Lt. Commander W.E Darwall
(sold)
A taxidermy Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
20th century
A very large Edwardian display case with European sea-birds
Early 20th century
A very large group of ammonites
180 million years B.C.
A Victorian taxidermy dome with Indian Roller birds (Coracias benghalensis)
19th century
A taxidermy pangolin (manis)
Late 19th/early 20th century
Provenance:
Collection HBS School, Amsterdam
(sold)
A Victorian display wall case with taxidermy hummingbirds (trochillidae)
19th century
A taxidermy Ostrich (Struthio camelus)
Early 20th century
A fine cased taxidermy Woolly Monkey (lagothrix lagotrhicha, possibly poeppigii)
Late 19th/early 20th 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
Late 19th century
(sold)
A vibrantly coloured taxidermy Himalayan Monal Pheasant (Lophophorus impejanus)
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)
Late 19th century
A taxidermy Grey Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron bicalcaratum)
20th century
A taxidermy Palawan Peacock-pheasant (Polyplectron napoleonis)
20th century
(sold)
A large French glass dome with taxidermy tropical African birds
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
A rare Victorian display cabinet with taxidermy Birds of Paradise
Second half 19th century
(sold)
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
Dated 1896
(sold)
A taxidermy Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)
20th century
(sold)
A French glass dome with taxidermy South-American birds, a.o. a Cock-of-the-rock and several cotinga
Late 19th century
(sold)
A Victorian glass dome with taxidermy tropical birds
Circa 1850
(sold)