A Very Fine Early 20thC Mounted Mature Taxidermy Peacock

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Origin: Unknown
Period: Early Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1900-30
Height: 74 inches (approximately and at extremities)
Base Diameter: 13 inches

The mature English peacock or common peafowl (Pavo cristatus) mounted on a large rustic naturalistic setting stump mount on oak circular base surviving from the first quarter of twentieth century England in superb overall condition.

The specimen is presented in very good order considering the relative fragility and age and that these examples are so often found with many feathers missing with a tatty appearance. This one shows no such problems, with only minor hair drop to the facial areas and very minor feather loss to the plumage. There is some old woodworm damage evident to the log mount, which we have treated.

The Peacock
By William Butler Yeats
 
WHAT’S riches to him    
That has made a great peacock    
With the pride of his eye?    
The wind-beaten, stone-grey,    
And desolate Three-rock
Would nourish his whim;    
Live he or die    
Between rock and wet heather,    
His ghost will be gay    
Adding feather to feather
For the pride of his eye.
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