拍品 831* ♣ - A207 Out of This World - Montag, 04. Dezember 2023, 04.00 PM
GREATER BIRD OF PARADISE
Paradisea apoda
Circa 1950
67 × 34 × 28 cm (including stand)
Circa 1950
67 × 34 × 28 cm (including stand)
含有象牙、犀牛角及/或其他瀕危或受保護物種物質的拍賣品，在本目錄中特別註有♣符號。一些國家禁止或限制進口或出口含有象牙、犀牛角及/或源於其他瀕危或受保護物種的物品。因此，若您拍賣購得標有♣的物品，並擬運往其他國家，您應在拍賣前了解及遵守所有相關海關的規則及法規。
Provenance: Old Swiss school collection
The great bird of paradise belongs to the genus Paradisaea and inhabits the lush tropical rainforest in large parts of the lowlands in southern New Guinea as well as the Aru Islands off the coast of New Guinea. While the female has a rather plain brown plumage, the male with his shimmering emerald–green throat, chestnut–coloured body plumage and spectacular yellowish–white flank plumes not only impresses his mate during a colourful and very vocal courtship but is also admired by humans for his opulence and beauty.
Even today, leaders of indigenous ethnic groups of New Guinea wear the feathers of the greater bird of paradise as headdresses at ceremonial occasions. They believe he was sent to them from heaven. When this legend spread to Europe, it became known as the bird of paradise. Since the first specimens sent to Europe for preservation arrived without feet, the misconception arose that this bird also floats ‘footless’ in the wild. It was even given the binary nomenclature Paradisea apoda by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 (the Greek word ‘apoda’ meaning footless). The error was cleared up relatively quickly, but the name remained.
One of the most prevalent traits of this fascinating specimen is the beautifully preserved, characteristic flank plumes, which the bird vividly displays in its naturalistic pose. Taxidermized circa 1950, it has recently been carefully restored by a Swiss taxidermist.
The great bird of paradise belongs to the genus Paradisaea and inhabits the lush tropical rainforest in large parts of the lowlands in southern New Guinea as well as the Aru Islands off the coast of New Guinea. While the female has a rather plain brown plumage, the male with his shimmering emerald–green throat, chestnut–coloured body plumage and spectacular yellowish–white flank plumes not only impresses his mate during a colourful and very vocal courtship but is also admired by humans for his opulence and beauty.
Even today, leaders of indigenous ethnic groups of New Guinea wear the feathers of the greater bird of paradise as headdresses at ceremonial occasions. They believe he was sent to them from heaven. When this legend spread to Europe, it became known as the bird of paradise. Since the first specimens sent to Europe for preservation arrived without feet, the misconception arose that this bird also floats ‘footless’ in the wild. It was even given the binary nomenclature Paradisea apoda by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 (the Greek word ‘apoda’ meaning footless). The error was cleared up relatively quickly, but the name remained.
One of the most prevalent traits of this fascinating specimen is the beautifully preserved, characteristic flank plumes, which the bird vividly displays in its naturalistic pose. Taxidermized circa 1950, it has recently been carefully restored by a Swiss taxidermist.
To see this Object in a Video, click here
CHF 2 500 / 3 500 | (€ 2 580 / 3 610)
以瑞士法郎銷售 CHF 3 500 (包含買家佣金)
所有信息随时可能更改。