EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Details

A WELSH TAXIDERMY SPECIMEN OF A POLYCEPHALIC LAMB (OVIS ARIES)
EARLY 20TH CENTURY
The two-headed lamb seated, amongst a stony landscape with snails, branches and plants, in a mahogany glazed case with bevelled glass panes, the back with working lock and key to open the back
15 ½ in. (39.5 cm.) high; 31 ½ in. (80 cm.) wide

Provenance

By repute, purchased from a Welsh farming family

Special notice

This lot will be removed to an off-site warehouse at the close of business on the day of sale - 2 weeks free storage

Lot Essay

Apparently the lamb was born in 1906 and lived for two weeks. Polycephaly is the condition of having more than one head the term is derived from the Greek stems poly and kephali (meaning head). In animals the most common of this rare occurrence is in turtles and snakes. With farm animals, cats, pigs, calves and goats and sheep have all has polycephalitic examples.

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