Hunting the big provincial game... Loyal following for field sports at bi-annual themed sale in Somerset

Forget political correctness, here is a buzzing international marketplace.

Although legislation often prevents their sale in the USA, big game trophies can be as much in demand from the interior decorating trade as they are from those who wear Barbour jackets and drive Range Rovers.

A good story often helps and what better conversation piece than a tiger skin rug offered together with a framed display of teeth and claws plus an account of the final days of the animal, a man-eater who was shot on February 15 1942?

It was not an outstanding skin – holes suggested it must have taken a few shots to fell the brute – but it made £900.

In terms of condition, the overriding factor in this area, the pick at Greenslade Taylor Hunt (15% buyer's premium), in Taunton on March 28, was a tiger head (mounted on a later wooden shield) by Van Ingen, Mysore, considered the world’s finest preparers of animal skins.

It sold at £2500 followed at £1500 by a full tiger skin rug – “immaculate” said specialist Keith Amor – and at £680 by a snow leopard, both carrying the Van Ingen name.

More surprising was a set of topis’ horns mounted on an oak shield by Rowland Ward with an ivory label inscribed Darfus 1925 and a label to the reverse reading Berlin International Big Game Exhibition 1937. Estimated at £80-120 this impressive rack – an award winner at the Berlin Expo with the gold medal to prove it – made £1350.

There were two dozen hunting horns in the 1200-lot catalogue including four in hallmarked English silver – one by Kohler & Son, London, 1917 sold for £420 – and several copper and nickel examples by other top makers selling to a high of £290 for one with banded nickel mounts by Swaine & Adeney.

Marked for London 1968, a naturalistically cast model of a prowling fox, 12 1/2in (32cm) long brought a punchy £1100 (estimate £300-400). Equally popular was a 7 1/2in wide by 6in high (18 x 15cm) bronze of two greyhounds signed and dated 1934 by Sir William Reid Dick (1878-1961) – sculptor of the imposing Roosevelt in Grosvenor Square and the George V by the House of Lords. Estimated at £150-250 the hounds raced to £1250.

In addition to the usual selection of Aldin, Edwards and Snaffles prints (A Little Fizzer by Snaffles sold at £3000) the traditional sports memorabilia included a cricket bat c.1931 signed by 15 teams of the period. Including the autographs of such luminaries as J.B. Hobbs, H. Larwood, T. Shepherd, it made £580.

Incidentally, to link a past sale with the future, a glance at the Calendars section on the Antiques Trade Gazette website shows more than a dozen themed sporting sales across the country between June and August.