Kendall House Antiques Ltd. has dated this Cased Taxidermy Blue Budgerigar to the 1920s.
Raine Bros. Gun & Fishing tackle makers, Carlisle’. It is interesting to note that he mentions both Scientific & Ornamental taxidermist, as if he has not quite decided on his style, the North East of England taxidermist such as Hancock, Cullingford and Duncan made the scientific style of case, their own, maybe Rain was following suit, however the fine example we have for sale here is definitely ornamental and would have even been classed as exotic in its day.
R. & G. W. Raine Brothers: Frequently known as Raine Bros. or R. Raine. The business was established in the 1890s by Robert Raine, initially trading under the name "R. Raine". In the 1920s, his brother George W. Raine joined the firm, prompting a name change to "R. & G. W. Raine Brothers". The firm's operational records and ledger books indicate peak account activity between December 1918 and April 1943. The workshop and storefront located at 26 Botchergate, was the primary commercial thoroughfare running south from the city centre. Following their death the business tools and premises at 26 Botchergate were sold to Cyril L. Atkinson, who continued trading under "Raine Bros (C. L. Atkinson, Successor)" brand name for several more decades.
The following quote is from the ‘Archives of Natural History’ by R M Sellers Vol 44 Issue 1 Pages74-81. This is interesting as it is only rarely that we get a glimpse into the amount of specimens these old taxidermists were actually preparing.
‘Some 308 items mainly British birds and mammals, submitted for preservation by account holders of R. & G. W. Raine Brothers, taxidermists in Carlisle, between 1918 and 1943.’
Family history: Robert Sr. was a highly skilled watchmaker and gunsmith. Before setting up long-term roots in Carlisle, the family moved around the rural borders of Cumberland and Northumberland following trade opportunities. By the late 1870s or early 1880s, the family relocated permanently to Carlisle, initially living and working on Blackfriars Street before establishing the business base at 26 Botchergate.
Robert Sr. and Mary Ann had several children, but two brothers in particular took over the family trade and built the "Raine Bros." taxidermy empire.
Robert Raine (Jr.) (1869 – 1943). Originally apprenticed under his father as a gunsmith, he expanded into taxidermy in the 1890s. He initially ran the shop under his sole name ("R. Raine").
George Washington Raine (1874- 1951). He trained heavily in the fishing tackle and gunsmithing side of the business. He formally partnered with Robert after World War I, creating R. & G. W. Raine Bros.
Interestingly: Raine bros shop in Botchergate is still in existence today, albeit it is now the local Indian ‘Ali Tandoori’ however, this now rather run down area, tells another story!
The first British roadside post boxes were trialled in the Channel Islands in 1852. Following the success of the trial, the first post box in mainland Britain was erected in Botchergate, Carlisle in 1853. A replica Victorian pillar box, built in 1989, stands on Botchergate to commemorate this today.
Height is just 21.5 cm, width 16.5 cm, and depth 7.5 cm
Kendall House Antiques Ltd. has dated this Cased Taxidermy Blue Budgerigar to the 1920s.
Kendall house antiques a traditional shop in the north cotswold’s market town of chipping campden.
You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Kendall House Antiques Ltd. Profile Page
Taxidermy – Budgerigar by Raine of Carlisle. Circa 1920
