A 1939 taxidermy of a leopard head by Van Ingen was the highest selling lot in Mitchell's Country Sporting Sale last week achieving an impressive hammer price of £3,400.
Van Ingen of Mysore in India was one of the world’s greatest taxidermy firms serving international nobility as well as the Maharajas of India for nearly 100 years before finally closing in 1991.
Other valuable taxidermy included a Victorian entomology display cabinet containing 30 drawers of specimens with a wide selection of beetles, weevils and caterpillars which sold for £550.
A Doleschel Grulich Edwardian long-eared owl diorama made £280, a cased black grouse by Robert Duncan of Newcastle and a Pine Grosbeak in a glazed oak case by the renowned taxidermist Carl Church of Pickering both made £260 each.
The highest selling lots amongst the guns were a Blaser F3 12 bore over/under shotgun with 30” barrels sold for £1,800 and an unused Beretta 690 111 Field 12 bore over/under shotgun which made £1,350.
A Tramper Off Road mobility scooter with trailer made £2,900 and a Transk 9 dog carrying box made £260.
Amongst the sporting art was a selection of highly collectable hunting cartoons by the renowned Keswick illustrator John ‘Wilk’ Wilkinson (1906-1994). The most valuable was a watercolour cartoon dated 1982 depicting Johnny Richardson and the Blencathra Foxhounds at the Blencathra Kennels which sold for £550.
A catalogue with all the hammer prices achieved in the sale can be viewed online at www.mitchellsantiques.co.uk.
Entries are now invited for Mitchells next three-day Antiques & Fine Art Sale from 29th November to 1st December with a closing date for entries of Tuesday 31st October. This sale will feature a special section of Cumbrian Art and members of the public are invited to bring their local artworks, jewellery and other items to the saleroom for a free appraisal at a Drop-In Valuation Event on Friday, October 20, hosted by picture specialist James Forster and jewellery specialist Mark Wise.
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