Among the carvings exhibited by William Gibbs Rogers (1792-1875) at the Great Exhibition in 1851, were two small still-life groups, one of a net containing fish, the other of a trophy similar to the present lot consisting of a pheasant and woodcock hung up together "in which life is attempted to be portrayed". Rogers was the leading light in a Gibbons revival from the late 1830's and these carvings would seem to be inspired by his exhibited pair