ONE BY FILS D'EMILE DEYROLLE, PARIS, THE OTHER ATTRIBUTED TO FILS D'EMILE DEYROLLE, PARIS, LATE 19TH CENTURY

The Parisian firm of Deyrolle was founded in 1831 by keen Naturalist Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle, and moved to its present premises at 46 Rue du Bac in 1881. The prodigious company specialised in taxidermy, didactic models, natural history specimens and microscopes, becoming known as "Les Fils d'Émile Deyrolle" from the late 19th century. During the 20th Century it became a popular destination for Surrealists such as Andre Breton and Salvador Dali. In 2008 the Deyrolle building and most of it's contents were destroyed by a fire, although some specimens, apparently including this example, were saved. A Deyrolle model depicting the human musculature was sold Christie's, South Kensington, 5 March 2014, lot 99 (£11,250, including premium).