Tiger burns bright at Sporting Sale

THERE was roaring trade at an auction of sporting memorabilia last week, when a tiger skin rug achieved the top price of the day.

The 9ft 8 ins male tiger skin, prepared by the world-renowned Van Ingen and Van Ingen of Mysore, India in the 1920s or 30s, was sold for £2,700 – almost double its estimate of £1,000 to £1,500.

There were plenty of good results from the taxidermy section at Moore Allen & Innocent’s Sporting Sale in Cirencester on Friday, August 29

A fire screen containing stuffed and mounted African jungle birds, including a hornbill, roller, hoopoe and jungle fowl, by James Gardner of Oxford Street, Naturalist to the Royal Family, went for anything but a song, achieving £800 against an estimate of £300 to £500.

Meanwhile, a stuffed alligator with Swindon connections made £130 – bang in the middle of its £100 to £150 estimate. An inscription on the wooden plinth on which the reptile resided read: “Presented by John Spiller, Swindon.” It is thought that Mr Spiller donated the late Victorian piece of taxidermy to the town museum.

In the firearms section a consecutive pair of Watson Brothers double barrel 12 bore shotguns housed in a leather-bound oak double motor case achieved £1,600, while in the fishing section an unusual Hardy four-and-a-quarter inch brass faced alloy Perfect reel from 1896 was sold for £1,550.

Finally, a 15ct gold medal presented by grateful players to the second manager of Everton Football Club, Richard Molyneux, in 1898 exceeded expectations, selling for £620 against an estimate of £300 to £500.

A tiger skin rug, sold for £2,700	A fire screen containing stuffed and mounted African jungle birds, sold for £800
A stuffed alligator with Swindon connections made £130	A gold medal presented by players to Richard Molyneux, the second manager of Everton Football Club, sold for £620