- 2 Frassetto Way - Lincoln Park, NJ 07035
September Uncurated: Art, Furnishings, and Estate Discoveries
Lot 165:
Description
A Victorian-period taxidermy arrangement featuring several North American bird specimens artistically mounted on a gnarled vertical wood branch structure. The display is accented with artificial grapevine leaves, dried grasses, and a single butterfly specimen. The entire composition is set into a mossy-textured ground on an oval ebonized wooden base and enclosed under a tall glass dome. Identifiable bird species include a male American Goldfinch in breeding plumage, a male Common Yellowthroat with a black facial mask, a male Indigo Bunting, a male Red-winged Blackbird, and a male Orchard Oriole. The display also contains several other small passerines including warblers and sparrows. The insect specimen is a butterfly, likely a Tiger Swallowtail. 19″ H x 14″ W x 6″ D.
Condition report:
The item is in fair to good condition, showing signs of age appropriate for a late 19th-century decorative piece. There is fading and dust accumulation on the bird specimens and artificial foliage. Minor feather loss and ruffling are present on several birds. The artificial leaves show significant yellowing and fragility, and the dried grass elements are brittle with some loss. The ebonized base exhibits scuffing, surface wear, and loss of finish around the bottom edge. The glass dome is intact with no visible cracks or chips, though it shows surface grime.
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