Consigned from a Scottish country house residence to the sale of vintage fishing tackle and related items held by Angling Auctions (15% buyer’s premium) at the Chiswick Town Hall on September 27, this 4ft 1in (1.25m) long carved wood and naturalistically painted salmon by Russell had a brass plaque reading 48lb Loch Tay, April 19 1867. With a damaged tail fin, it did not quite make its estimate but was sold at £4500.
Also pictured right is a deluxe fishing brass multiplying reel that carries the name of Ainge & Aldred, a short-lived company which traded from 126 Oxford Street, London, between 1851-1856.
They also exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and it is likely that this reel, with its ivory handle and elaborate engraved floral decoration was made for the big show at the Crystal Palace. It made £5000.
Leading the West London sale was the £7600 tooled leather creel made by Atkinson’s, Sadler & Harness Maker, Sedbergh c.1780-1800 featured on the front page of Antiques Trade Gazette 1609, dated October 11.
Pioneer’s fish lands a bid of £4500
Historians of the craft of fish carving currently believe that the Scotsman John B. Russell (1819/20-1893) was the first professional maker of such models. Working with carver John Tully at the Fochabers Studio, which made models for Farlow & Co. into the 1930s, Russell is known to have been producing these fine trophies from around 1880, although the early date to the example pictured here suggests some rewriting of the literature might be required.
