Red squirrel
William Hart & Son, Preservers of Birds and Beasts (fl. mid 19th century)
Category
Natural History / Taxidermy
Date
circa 1900
Materials
Display case with posed taxidermy squirrels
Measurements
387 mm (H); 482 mm (W); 178 mm (D)
Place of origin
Christchurch
Order this imageCollection
Castle Ward, County Down
NT 836091.2
Caption
Victorian taxidermists often set up squirrels as though they were humans, for example, playing cards. Edward Hart made many sets of squirels in a boxing match. The first case had the fighters squaring up, wearing the long canvas breeches used by boxers in those days. Subsequent cases depict the progress of the fight, with the last having one animal standing triumphant, a foot on his prostrate opponent (see 836091.1 for the full sequence). Red squirrels were readily available to the taxidermist, being shot in large numbers by foresters protecting their trees (in the days before American grey squirrels were released here).
Summary
A case containing 'Boxing Squirrels' by the Victorian taxidermist, Edward Hart. 5th Viscount Bangor's living sculpture of a tableau of red squirrels in boxing poses. Squirrel opponents preparing to fight.
Provenance
Purchased from the 7th Lord Bangor in 1967 with a grant from the Ulster Land Fund.
Makers and roles
William Hart & Son, Preservers of Birds and Beasts (fl. mid 19th century), taxidermist Edward Hart (1847-1928), taxidermist