African Waterbuck by Rowland Ward

This is a museum-quality shoulder mount of a male Waterbuck, prepared by the world-renowned firm Rowland Ward Ltd. of Piccadilly, London. As the most prestigious name in natural history and taxidermy during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a piece from Rowland Ward's "The Jungle" workshop is highly prized for its anatomical accuracy and historical significance.

The Waterbuck is an imposing African antelope, and this specimen beautifully showcases its distinctive shaggy, coarse coat in earthy grey-brown tones. The focus of the mount is the magnificent pair of heavily ringed, lyre-shaped horns, which curve gracefully backwards and then forwards. Rowland Ward was a pioneer in "anatomical" taxidermy, meaning this mount retains a lifelike posture and expression that far surpasses the "stuffed" look of lesser period pieces.

Typically mounted on a solid oak shield, these trophies often feature the original ivorine plaque or a paper label on the reverse, bearing the famous Piccadilly address. This piece is a quintessential element of the "Grand Tour" or colonial-style interior, offering a commanding presence in a hallway, library, or large drawing room.