Oak table with Zebra hide skin (protected under a glass top) with R.W trade label to the underside “Rowland Ward ltd 167 Piccadilly, W.”
Circa 1920.
92cm Wide x 75cm High x 62cm Depth.

Ref: 26790

This world-famous London taxidermy firm made a vast selection of cleverly adapted and useful items of furniture, known as “Wardian furniture” this table being a fine and rare example. Ideal for displaying a fine case of taxidermy or dressing a Victorian parlour.

The following is an extract from “A History of British Taxidermy” by C. Frost
“Rowland Ward was in the habit of claiming to have invented practically everything with which he was in any way connected………………Practically any species could be usefully employed in this slightly bizarre branch of taxidermy. Ward even turned an entire famous small Elephant called ‘Tiny’ into a hall porters chair……….and one of the Prince and Princess of Wales silver wedding presents in 1888 was a Crocodile mounted as a dumb waiter.”

For more information on this spectacular firm see:
‘A History of British Taxidermy’ by C. Frost published in 1987.
or
‘Rowland Ward Taxidermist to the World’ by P.A. Morris published in 2003