Taxidermy: A pair of white pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptil...

Estimate

£200 - £300

Taxidermy: A pair of white pheasant (Crossoptilon crossoptilon) Arranged in an open diorama, perched on a rock and a tree stump, on a shaped mahogany base. 52cm wide x 73cm high Footnote:White pheasants, especially rare albino or leucistic individuals, have carried a special place in British folklore and historical symbolism, though they are less commonly referenced than animals like the stag or raven. Still, there are intriguing connections and symbolic interpretations tied to them. In rural and hunting communities, rare white birds like white pheasants are sometimes considered lucky and may be spared during shoots. There's a belief in some circles that killing a white pheasant brings bad luck, a superstition similar to that attached to white deer. Some estates even regard them as 'royal' birds or mascots, and tales of white pheasants lingering on old hunting grounds sometimes morph into local legends. These birds may be protected and whispered about in ways that blend modern reverence with older, folkloric awe.