‘Prophecy’

Object Description

The large and fine stuffed and mounted barn owl (Tyto alba) specimen, spread-eagled amidst take-off from a beech Victorian side chair showing the original ochre painted finish now distressed commensurate with age.

Object History

Unknown.

Object Literature

The Owls by Charles Baudelaire

Under the overhanging yews,
The dark owls sit in solemn state,
Like stranger gods; by twos and twos
Their red eyes gleam.
They meditate.

Motionless thus they sit and dream
Until that melancholy hour
When, with the sun’s last fading gleam,
The nightly shades assume their power.

From their still attitude the wise
Will learn with terror to despise
All tumult, movement, and unrest;

For he who follows every shade,
Carries the memory in his breast,
Of each unhappy journey made.

Object Condition

The chair with attractive distressed original paintwork and structurally sound, the mount in good condition with some slight hair drop.

Object Details