Island Life June July 2015 June July 2015

ANTIQUES RECENTLY SOLD ITEMS Rex Gully & Rebecca Ball: Ask an expert! H Taxidermy Exhibit Sold for £300 Sheep dog from waxworks, sold to a mainland enthusiast HRD Auction Rooms Cased Grey Parrot Sold for £300 By taxidermist Rowland Ward, sold to international collector HRD Auction Rooms African Elephant Sold for £6,700 Taxidermy exhibit bought for a prestigious private collection HRD Auction Rooms ugely popular with the Victorians, but having fallen out of favour until relatively recently, there is no denying that taxidermy is now firmly back on the list of de rigueur collectables. Salerooms and antiques dealers throughout the country have seen a huge upsurge in the popularity of all manner of stuffed creatures, as fashionable clients jump on the bandwagon of the latest interiors trend. Having come a long way from its starting point as a dramatic educational tool, popularised by the Victorian fascination with the natural world, taxidermy has cast off its morbid connotations and been embraced by lovers of art and antiques. If you are keen to start collecting, then regardless of the size of your budget or the space available, you are certain to be able to find a piece of taxidermy to suit. At Hose Rhodes Dickson we regularly see stuffed squirrels, birds and fish, which can often be purchased quite inexpensively. However, we are no strangers to the more exotic and extravagant, as we have also sold an African Grey parrot, by renowned taxidermist Rowland Ward, a stuffed dog and, incredibly, an elephant. HRD Auctions - 01983 402222 Roadster Sold for £18,500 1960 MGA Sports Roadster car Island Auction Rooms Bracelet Sold for £2,400 Diamond bracelet Island Auction Rooms Brooch Sold for £1,900 Diamond spry brooch Island Auction Rooms Auction report T here was no waning in the attendance at Hose Rhodes Dickson Auction Rooms recently, when a capacity crowd watched the team of auctioneers wax lyrical, as the remainder of contents from the old Brading Waxworks went under the hammer. Lots ranged from two complete displays featuring the waxworks of Little Jane and Charles I, through to the neon ‘bat’ sign and even a taxidermy dog. As anticipated, the museum still held a fond place in the hearts of many, and a comprehensive promotional campaign, particularly embracing the power of social media, ensured enquiries flew in from as far afield as the Shetland Islands. What ensued was enthusiastic bidding from clients keen to acquire a fragment of Isle of Wight history, with all lots soaring over their guide prices. There are now pieces of Brading Waxworks dotted throughout the country, delighting collectors of curios and those with treasured childhood memories alike. Island Auction Rooms - 01983 863441 www.visitilife.com 47

Island Life June July 2015 June July 2015 | Page 47