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LESSER BIRDS OF PARADISE: TAXIDERMY

circa 1890

A superb Victorian glass dome with a particularly rare taxidermy arrrangement of both male and female Lesser Birds of Paradise. Although male Lesser Birds of Paradise turn up from time to time, they are often badly faded, deteriorated or poorly stuffed. This example is outstanding condition. What is equally important and unusual is the fact that this dome houses a female as well as a male. Female birds of paradise are only rarely encountered as the original collectors showed little interest in them, preferring the bright colours and decorative plumage of the males. In a way remimiscent of native New Guineans, who often used the ornamental plumes in their tribal headresses, they believed that only the males had an appearance that would attract the attention of their customers. Hence, female examplesa are extremely rare.

Stock number

Q07.87
Height: 22⁷/₈ in (58 cm)
Width: 18¹/₈ in (46 cm)
Depth: 15 in (38 cm)
A superb Victorian glass dome with a particularly rare taxidermy arrrangement of both male and female Lesser Birds of Paradise. Although male Lesser Birds of Paradise turn up from time to time, they are often badly faded, deteriorated or poorly stuffed. This example is outstanding condition. What is equally important and unusual is the fact that this dome houses a female as well as a male. Female birds of paradise are only rarely encountered as the original collectors showed little interest in them, preferring the bright colours and decorative plumage of the males. In a way remimiscent of native New Guineans, who often used the ornamental plumes in their tribal headresses, they believed that only the males had an appearance that would attract the attention of their customers. Hence, female examplesa are extremely rare.
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