A small gilt edged bow front display case with interior data label reading ‘Golden Carp. Taken Dec 12 1901. TW. Weight 9 Ozs” by J Cooper & Sons the famous fish taxidermists at the height of their fame.
Note: for a similar fish and its rarity see “The Domesday book of English Fish Taxidermists” by Barry Williams. Page 87: In 1927 Fred Cooper mounted a Golden Roach, only the second handled by the firm, the first set up in 1911. Fred Cooper kept a collection of casts from any unusual fish he prepared and it is documented that a cast of this Golden Roach was made for his own collection.
The fish we are selling is a Golden Carp and pre dates these two.
Size 35cm x 21cm.

Ref: 23408

John Cooper II was born the son of a taxidermist on 21st January 1840 and died 76 years later, still working as a taxidermist up until the day before he passed away.