Antique taxidermy liqueur cabinet

Taxidermy liqueur cabinet Antique elephant's foot, wood, with silver hardware and royal blue velvet on the inside of hinged top. Glass decanters are new. Signed "Rowland Ward LTD, Piccadilly" Circa 1900 In excellent condition for its age (no key for lock) 13.5" tall 16" depth $2700 It's available (don't ask) James Rowland Ward the eminent English naturalist and specialist in big game, who was primarily responsible for the firm's worldwide renown, was born in London in 1847. He died in 1912, but his company has a long and prestigious history and remained for many years the market leader and finest British taxidermy firm in the world. A curious byproduct of taxidermy so-called 'Wardian Furniture' was another of Rowland Ward's innovations developing from his 'Zoological Lamps', their supports composed of variously arranged birds or quadrupeds, first marketed in the winter of 1872. Following their success with the buying public other 'household objects' what Ward called "spolia" as exemplified by the conversion of elephants' feet into liqueur stands were introduced.