Kiwi soars above high estimate!

An early 20^th century taxidermy Kiwi was one highlight of The Works of Art, Medals, Militaria & Furniture Auction at McTear’s last week. With competition between bidders in the room, on the telephone and online – with one bidder, in fact, based in New Zealand – this taxidermy soared above high estimate. But it doesn’t look like this Kiwi will be taking to the skies anytime soon, eventually selling to a bidder based in the West of Scotland, for an impressive hammer price of £2,800.

Friday’s auction certainly served to prove the popularity of taxidermy, and a badger’s head and fur sporran (lot 833) was another hammer highlight. This unique sporran sold for a hammer price of £480.

Other highlights of The Works of Art, Medals, Militaria & Furniture Auction included a mid-19th century French seal - once gifted to acclaimed architect Joseph Paxton - which sold for a hammer price of £750 (lot 817).  A Victorian Crimean War Medal also proved popular, whilst an interesting Ethiopian stamp collection clearly caught the eye of keen collectors, with the hammer falling at £700 for each (lots 815 & 954 respectively). 

Click here to view the full auction results now. 

Would you like to uncover the value of your own objects, perhaps an old taxidermy treasure? Drop into McTear’s Glasgow Galleries Mon-Fri this week, call Hannah on 0141 810 2880 or email photographs to hannahmurphy@mctears.co.uk.