A Vintage Mounted Fallow Deer Buck Head by A.F. Adsetts of Derby
SOLD
Origin: English
Period: Early-Twentieth Century
Provenance: Unknown
Date: c.1920
Height: 37 inches (with antlers)
Width: 24 inches (with antlers)
Depth: 16 inches (at maximum)
A wonderful specimen is this Fallow Buck, preserved around 1930 and in fantastic overall condition. Mounted on a shield, the animal has an excellent state of poise and the only areas of loss are to the very tips of the ears.
The hardwood shield is also in fine condition and it reads verso “Notice. Careful attention must be given to this specimen in the Spring and Autumn, by dressing it with turpentine saturating it well to the roots of the hair. – A.F. Adsetts, Practical Taxidermist, 129 London Road, Derby”. There is a nook to the rear of the shield, making the stag ready to hang.
Introduced by the Normans in the 10th Century (or even earlier perhaps by the Romans) fallow deer are intermediate in size between roe and red deer. There are four main variations in coat, all having white spots to the back and the fallow is the only British deer with palmate antlers. Fallow deer were prized as ornamental species and were protected in Royal Hunting "Forests" for royal sport. During Mediaeval times many deer parks that held fallow deer were established and these and more recent park escapees have given rise to the free-living populations in Britain today.
This is a handsome Buck, near antique, and in very good shape, all things considered.