Taxidermy. A rare Victorian preserved pelican by T. E. Gunn of Norwich

Taxidermy. A rare Victorian preserved pelican by T. E. Gunn of Norwich, mounted in a naturalistic setting with reeds, in a glazed, ebonised case, the back with a printed paper trade label, inscribed 'T. E. GUNN, (LATE J. SAYER), NATURALIST, 47, UPPER ST. GILES STREET, NORWICH', 122cm high, 101.3cm wide, 42.4cm deep.

Provenance: Formerly the property of the late Andy Johnson.

Thomas Edward Gunn was born in Norwich in 1844. He was apprenticed to John Sayer and took over his business on Sayer's death. Thomas Gunn was the largest taxidermy business in Norwich and he won prizes and upwards of forty gold medals for his work including a gold medal at the National Fisheries Exhibition in 1881. Gunn is considered one of the finest British taxidermists of his time. The Ogilvie Collection at Ipswich Mueum is a testament to his craftsmenship and skill as a taxidermist.

The present lot is illustrated in Christopher Frost, A History of British Taxidermy, p.59.