Greater bird-of-paradise
John Hancock (1808-1890)
Category
Natural History / Taxidermy
Date
Unknown
Materials
Display case and table with taxidermy Greater Bird-of-Paradise
Measurements
850 x 780 x 578 mm (case)
Order this imageCollection
Cragside, Northumberland
NT 1227350.1
Caption
Hancock was highly influential in the mid 19th century, setting up birds as ‘action poses’, some of which were shown at the Great Exhibition in 1851. Before his time taxidermists had been content just to present their birds in static postures on perches. Hancock would have obtained the skin from among the thousands imported for ladies hats. It is set up on a plaster base (with his signature scratched into it); most taxidermists used lighter materials than this to simulate rocks or leaves.
Summary
A stuffed, male, Greater Bird-of-Paradise from New Guinea in display posture, by John Hancock (1808-1890). The bird is mounted on leaves modelled in plaster with a scratched 'Hancock' signature, with ormolu female mask heads. The case stands on a table evidently chosen or built to fit the display. The case is glazed, mounted on a burr walnut table on French cabriole legs.
Provenance
Armstrong collection. Transferred by the Treasury to The National Trust in 1977 via the National Land Fund, aided by 3rd Baron Armstrong of Bamburgh and Cragside (1919 - 1987).
Marks and inscriptions
Plaster leaves: Hancock
Makers and roles
John Hancock (1808-1890), taxidermist