One of their less ferocious commissions in this Glouc-estershire sale was the painted timber half model of a mahseer with the company’s label to its reverse. Considered to be one of India’s most sporting fresh water fish and weighing anything up to 100lbs, the model for this catch was based on a comparatively modest 21-pounder caught in India in 1912 by J .E. Drysdale Domel. He was presumably unable to transport the fish itself back to the United Kingdom.
Finely carved and painted, the 2ft (61cm) long fish model mounted on its original 3ft (91cm) long board made the biggest splash at this 1400-lot Gloucestershire outing.
Consigned with low £60-80 expectations by a local private vendor, the quality of this large, eye-catching entry was recognised by several dealers and decorators. It reeled in a winning £1800 from an antiques dealer/decorator.
Other naturalistically modelled creatures included an unmarked 18th century painted porcelain box and cover in the form of a partridge, spotted by the vendor in a charity shop. Wotton Auction Rooms specialist Philip Taubenheim was unable to attribute the 5in (13cm) long bird to a particular factory, but it was in good condition and went to a collector of 18th century English porcelain at £670.
The fairly pedestrian furniture section sold largely thanks to the lion’s share being offered without reserve but it contributed to the sale’s 90 per cent overall take-up by volume.
With business pretty brisk throughout, the sale totalled £105,000.
Raj angler nets the £1800 catch of day
Wotton Auction Rooms, Wotton-Under-Edge, February 22-23, Buyer’s premium: 15 per cent ALL manner of exotic beasts and big game hunting trophies passed through the hands of the celebrated London taxidermists Rowland Ward in the late 19th/ early 20th century.
