Silver & Objects of Vertu
22 Jul, 2018
Snowy Owl
As part of “The Winter Sale 2015” on February 12, Copley Fine Art Auctions will offer a hand-colored engraving of a pair of snowy owls, modeled after an original watercolor by the naturalist John James Audubon. His 1827 book, Birds of America, a collection of 435 life-size watercolors of North American birds, is still considered to be the archetype of wildlife illustration.
This engraving was made by Robert Havell, one of Audubon’s close friends and associates. The border of the image is labeled “Snowy Owl (No. 25, Plate CXXI)” and “Strix Nyctea.” On the lower left is written “Drawn from Nature by J. J. Audubon F.R.S.F.L.S.” and on the lower right is “Engraved, Printed, & Coloured by R. Havell, London.” The engraving is printed on J. Whatman watermarked paper.
Estimate: $80,000 - $100,000