From the South African National Gallery Collection :



HENRY ALKEN 1774-1850
Bank Shooting for Fowl
hand-coloured softground etching
Bequeathed by Abe Bailey, 1940
1575:21

HENRY ALKEN 1774-1850
Partridge Shooting
hand-coloured softground etching
Bequeathed by Abe Bailey, 1940
1575:17

HENRY ALKEN 1774-1850
Pheasant Shooting
hand-coloured softground etching
Bequeathed by Abe Bailey, 1940
1575:18

HENRY ALKEN 1774-1850
Snipe Shooting
hand-coloured softground etching
Bequeathed by Abe Bailey, 1940
1575:20

GB ARDMORE
Tea Pot
1997
ceramic
Purchased
97/40

GB ARDMORE
Tea Pot
1997
ceramic
Purchased
97/39

BEEZY BAILEY 1962-
Love in Heaven
1991
wood, photograph, tin, paint
Purchased
91/318

WALTER BATTISS 1906-1982
Cape Fiscal Shrike
wood engraving
Purchased
54/37:3

ERIC BYRD 1905-
Pelicans
1940
watercolour
Purchased
1300

PETER CLARKE 1929-
Night Bird
1963
colour print
Presented by Artist
68/36

MELCHIOR D'HONDECOETER 1636 - 1695
Poultry-yard with angered cock
oil on canvas
Michaelis Collection

MELCHIOR D'HONDECOETER 1636 - 1695
Hunting spoils with hare and birds
oil on canvas
Michaelis Collection

JACQUES DHONT 1959-
Tant Sisi
1991
wood, bark, cement
Purchased
94/4

DOUGLAS
Man with Bird and Snake
stone
Purchased
65/29

NEL ERASMUS 1928-
Towards the Light
1972
acrylic on hardboard
Purchased
72/32

ELEANOR ESMONDE-WHITE 1914-
Children and Birds
1958
coloured linocut
Purchased
60/3

ELEANOR ESMONDE-WHITE 1914-
Untitled
1952
wood engraving
Presented by EHJ Middlemiss
92/240

ELIZABETH FRINK 1930-
Longfaced Owl
etching
Purchased
75/50

ELIZABETH FRINK 1930-1993
New Bird
bronze
Purchased
66/52
MARION GILL 1879-1959
Sunbirds
coloured woodcut
Purchased
978

GERTRUDE HERMES 1901-
Birds
1932
wood engraving
Purchased
58/27

FRANCIS JACKSON 1872-1945
United Defence Against Aggression: England
and France
colour lithograph
Presented by Imperial War Museum
144

CHARLES EMILE JACQUE 1813-1894
Poultry. Morning in the Farm Yard
oil on woodpanel
Presented by Lady Michaelis, 1933
361

GEORGE JAHOLKOWSKI 1914-1979
Fighting Cocks
copper sheets
Purchased
59/17

LALLITHA JAWAHIRILAL
Untitled 1900
gouache, mixed media
Purchased
90/86
LALLITHA JAWAHIRILAL
Oh South Africa, you've turned my world completely upside down
1996
oil on canvas
Purchased
97/4

BASIL JONZEN
Stuffed Hawk
1933
oil on canvas
Presented by Contemporary Art Society, London, 1956
56/37

MAGGIE LAUBSER 1886-1973
Gans En Lelies
linocut
Purchased
54/16

EZROM LEGAE 1938-1999
Chicken Series IV
1977
conté
Purchased
78/12

LIONEL LINDSAY 1874-1961
Turkeys (Heysens Birds)
wood engraving
Presented by Mr AA de Pass, 1928
447

ISRAEL-ISAAC (LIPPY) LIPSHITZ 1903-1980
Fallen Angel
bronze
Purchased
68/58

X'GOA MANGANA (QWAA)
Baobab tree with owls, baboons etc.
Oil on canvas

JUDITH MASON 1938-
Bird
1971
screenprint
Presented
72/14

JUDITH MASON 1938 -
The Kite
pencil drawing
Purchased
72/13

JUDITH MASON 1938-
Angel at the Split Sepulchre
1969
oil on canvas
Donated by Gallery 101, Johannesburg
74/3

JUDITH MASON 1938-
Song of the Nightingale
1978
oil on canvas on board with gilded saw
Purchased
78/4

DAVYDD MYBURGH 1953-1992
Entrance
1983
ceramic, mixed media
Purchased
91/116

HENRIETTE NGAKO 1943-
Animal Sculpture
c1989
ceramic
Presented by Friends of the SANG
92/23

HENRIETTE NGAKO 1943-
Ke Medile - I Grow onto You
1994
ceramic
Purchased
94/49

BONNIE NTSHALINSHALI
Multi Bird
Ceramic
Purchased1987

PALERMO (SCHOOL OF) Adoration of the Magi
oil on woodpanel
Presented by Lady Michaelis
343

CONSTANCE PENSTONE
Sea Song
1917
oil on canvas
Presented
99/3

STANLEY PINKER 1924-
Figure with Bird
1978
oil on canvas
Bequeathed by late Peter Rees Estate
88/21

STANLEY PINKER 1924-
Landscape with Crow
watercolour
Purchased
69/42

STANLEY PINKER 1924-
Prickly Landscape with the Artist Poised for a Fall
1974
oil on canvas
Purchased
74/22

GEORGE POGGENBEEK 1853-1903
Study of Ducks
oil on cardboard
Purchased
1371

ALEXIS PRELLER 1911-1975
The Kraal
1948
oil on canvas on cardboard
Purchased
70/105

COSIMO ROSSELLI (ATTRIBUTED TO)
1438-1507
Saint and Two Angels Adoring the Virgin
oil on canvas pasted on wood
Presented by Lady Michaelis, 1933
351

CECILY SASH 1925-
Equivocal Bird
1962
oil and alabastine on hessian
Purchased
62/33

MAVIS SHABALALA
Tea Pot
1997
ceramic
Purchased
97/36

LUCKY SIBIYA
Untitled
1973
Pastel, paint, beads on canvas

LUCAS SITHOLE 1931-
Proud Soul
swazi indigenous wood
Purchased
73/94

FRANS SNIJDERS 1579- 1657
Concert of birds
oil on canvas
Michaelis Collection

MARCUS STONE 1840-1921
The Lost Bird
1883
oil on canvas
Purchased
193

SIMON STONE 1952-
Punk and Duck
1986
oil on metal
Purchased
87/35

GRAHAM SUTHERLAND 1903-
(10) Bird and Mouse
1965-1968
colour lithograph
Purchased
69/59:10

GRAHAM SUTHERLAND 1903-
(13) Bird about to take Flight
1968
colour lithograph
Purchased
69/59:13

GRAHAM SUTHERLAND 1903-
(19) Owl on Rose Ground
1965-1968
colour lithograph
Purchased
69/59:19

GRAHAM SUTHERLAND 1903-
(23) Bird Form (Full Face)
1965-1968
colour lithograph
Purchased
69/59:23

JACOB TOORENVLIET 1640 - 1719
Portrait of a couple with two children
Oil on copper
Michaelis Collection

JUAN THARRATS 1918-
Maculaturo Pajaro Negro
1963
oil and collage on wood
Purchased
65/13

JACOB TOORENVLIET 1640 - 1719
Portrait of a couple with two children
Oil on copper
Michaelis Collection

UNKNOWN
The Adoration of Shepherds
terra cotta relief
Presented by Lady Michaelis
345

UNKNOWN, DUTCH SCHOOL
Girl at a Fountain
second half 17th century
oil on copper
Michaelis Collection

UNKNOWN, ITALIAN
God the Father with Two Angels
tempera panel (in three parts)
Presented by Lady Michaelis, 1933
329

UNKNOWN, SPANISH SCHOOL
Christ with Four Dominican Monks
oil on woodpanel
Presented by Lady Michaelis, 1933
347

UNKNOWN, NEW GUINEAN
Trading Mask
mixed media
Purchased
83/45

UNKNOWN, NORTHERN NGUNI - TSONGA
Staff
wood
Presented by Federal Republic of Germany
95/22

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, AKAN GHANA
Gold Weight
c.19th century
Bronze
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, GHANA
Kuduo Urn
bronze
18th - 19th century
Robinson Collection
71/6

UNKNOWN, NEW GUINEAN
Trading Mask
mixed media
Purchased
83/45

UNKNOWN, NORTHERN NGUNI - TSONGA
Staff
wood
Presented by Federal Republic of Germany
95/22

UNKNOWN, SENUFO
Bird (Senufo Tribe, Ivory Coast)
carved wood
Purchased
71/54

UNKNOWN, ZULU
Beaded Bird
c1996
cloth, beads, wire, thread, fibre
Purchased
96/80

UNKNOWN, ZULU
Beaded Bird
c1996
cloth, beads
Purchased
96/79

CLEMENTINA VAN DER WALT 1952-
Urn for Colonial Ashes
1991
ceramic
Purchased
91/118

HENRICH VON MICHAELIS 1912-
Black Eagles
1943
oil, canvas, softboard
Presented by Artist
1382

HENRICH VON MICHAELIS 1912-
Falcon and Duck
1935
bronze
Purchased
1384

HENRICH VON MICHAELIS 1912-
South African Black Eagle
1944
bronze
Purchased
1383

STEPHANIE WATSON 1927-
Bird Game
1975
screenprint
Purchased
75/64

GEORGE FREDERICK WATTS 1817-1904
House of Wrath
oil on canvas
Purchased
86/15

EDITH GRACE WHEATLEY 1918-1970
Peacock
c1935
oil on canvas
Presented by Mr AA de Pass
1263

DAVID ZINDOGA 1926-
Bird
soapstone
Purchased
64/21

From the South African Museum Collection:


bead and cloth figure of a bird
Northern Nguni, Valley of a Thousand Hills, KwaZulu-Natal, 1989.
13417
> Bead neck ornament
Mfengu, Peddie district, 1990
13867

bone and walrus ivory rookery carved by Hutuk Kokulak
Inuit, Alaska, 1978.
11337

carved bone rookery with birds, murres
Inuit, Alaska, 1978.
11237

carved soapstone bird figure
Inuit, Greenland, 1969
11318

carved soapstone bird
Ndebele, Pietersburg, Northern Province, 1967.
9377

carved walrus ivory crested auklets
Inuit, Alaska, 1978.
1241

Carved walrus ivory puffins
Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11242

carved walrus ivory owls
Inuit, Alaska, 1978.
11243

carved walrus ivory ducks, the flat-bottomed one possibly used as a gaming piece
Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11244

carved walrus ivory geese and a duck
carved c. 1940
11245

carved walrus ivory ptarmigan
the state bird of Alaska, Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11246

carved walrus ivory swans
Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11247

carved walrus ivory penguin, on carved bone support
Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11336

carved walrus ivory bird with chick, on carved bone support
Inuit, Alaska, 1978
11339

carved walrus ivory toggle in the shape of an owl
Inuit, Bering Sea, Alaska, late 19th century.
14715

chickens made of plastic bags by Ascher Zafferai and sold at the roadside
Cape Town, 1996.
14690-14694

diviner's feather headdress
Ndebele in Zimbabwe, 1896
675

diviner's headdress with ostrich feathers
Mpondomise, Tsolo, Eastern Cape, 1991
14052

feather headdress worn by warriors
Shona, Zimbabwe, 1911
1347

fragments of two small carved soapstone birds
Great Zimbabwe, 13-15th century.
7886

gourd snuffbox with incised decoration depicting Cape scenes, including a bird hunt, Northern Nguni, KwaZulu-Natal, late 19th century
3322

gourd snuff box with depictions of birds, animals and human figures
Fort Cox, Eastern Province, 1921
3328

headdress of zebra skin with ostrich feathers
Ndebele in Zimbabwe, late 19th century
6207

lidded clay dish in the form of a chicken
South Sotho, Teyateyaneng, Lesotho, 1978
11496

model totem pole
Northwest Coast Native American, Wrangell, Alaska, 1943
6551

model totem pole carved to honour Alaska Coastal Airways, which used to serve many villages on the north west coast
1959
11290
Ostrich eggshell flask with incised decoration
San, Molepolole, Botswana, 1938
University of Cape Town 38/46

Ostrich eggshell flask with incised decoration
San, Namibia, 1913
1746

ostrich feather headdress worn by men at funerals
Himba, Etanga, Namibia, 1990
13895

painted tin paraffin lamp in bird form
KwaZulu-Natal, 1991
14124

stick with incised decoration
/Xam, Kenhardt, Western Cape, 1912
1495
stick with carved bird-like head, and incised decoration
Griqua, Griquatown, Northern Cape, no history
1489

sticks with incised and branded decoration
Khoisan, Calvinia, Northern Cape, 1915
1780

wire bird on wheels
Billy Maqubela, Johannesburg, 1980
11955

wooden vessel with pelican carved on the lid
Lozi, Zambia, no history
4908

wooden vessel with lid carved in the form of a duck
Lozi, Zambia, 1998
14861

Specimens on Display
Brown Snake - eagle (Circaetus cinereus)

Blue Cranes (Anthropoides paradisea)

Study Skin Collection Drawers

Barbets, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Sunbirds

Natural history collections are the primary resource for taxonomy, the science of classification. These collections hold centuries worth of biodiversity data. The study skin specimens, are prepared as research tools, usually in the field after collection. This form of preparation is distinct from the life-like taxidermy mounts that are seen in museum displays.

Today the ethics of collecting specimens for inclusion in natural history collections have to be carefully considered.

Display of Sunbirds

The binomial system of naming living things was simplified by the Swedish professor, physician and naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778). He described these southern African sunbirds in the eighteenth century.

Family Nectariniidae

Nectarinia famosa (Linnaeus, 1766); Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia violacea (Linnaeus, 1766); Orangebreasted Sunbird Nectarinia chalybea (Linnaeus, 1766); Lesser Doublecollared Sunbird Nectarinia afra (Linnaeus, 1766); Greater Doublecollared Sunbird Nectarinia senegalensis (Linnaeus, 1766); Scarletchested Sunbird

Bird Egg Collection:

Birds' eggs vary in size, colour and shape, but each bird species lays a distinctive egg. Like all natural history collections egg collections are used for comparative identification, for illustration and for a variety of scientific and environmental research projects.

Dinosaur Egg

This fossilized dinosaur egg is part of a clutch of eggs was found in the 70 million year old Late Cretaceous rocks of Zejiang Province, Eastern China. The shell is comparatively thin and shows a dimpled surface texture.

Fossilized Bird's Nest

Even nests can fossilize under the right conditions. This one was found at the edge of a vlei on the Cape Flats. It is impregnated with iron oxide that precipitated from the stagnant water with the help of bacteria. It is estimated to be approximately 100 years old.

Books

LE VAILLANT, François
Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d'Afrique / par François Le Vaillant. - Paris : Fuchs, 1802
This volume constitutes vol.2 of Le Vaillant's Birds of Africa. It belongs to the 1st edition published in 1802.

LE VAILLANT, François
Histoire naturelle des oiseaux d'Afrique / par François Le Vaillant. - Paris : Delachaussée, 1805-1808
Bookplates inscribed: Charle John Anderson

From the collection of the South African Cultural History Museum:



Athenian silver hemi-drachm
fifth century BC.
Gra: 3

Athenian silver drachm
fifth century BC.
Gra: 6
Athenian silver drachm
fifth century BC.
Gra: 70

Athenian silver tetradrachm
c. 420 BC.
Gra: 79

BIRD FANTASY
Spun glass
English, c. 1850.
Three tiny birds of paradise with long plumes of pink spun glass. On a formal tree stand.
Part of the Roza van Gelderen Victorian Glass Collection.
70/257.

BIRD FIGURINE
Porcelain, unknown factory.
Bequest: Estate Late Mrs WA Lidderdale, 1977.
B77/114

BOWL with lid
Opaline glass. Place of origin unknown, mid/late 19th century.
Duck-shaped.
Bequeathed by H. Talbot in 1944.
4628

BOWL
Opaline glass
Venetian, late 19th century.
Swan-shaped.
Presented by AJL Pentz in 1936.
4476

BUTTERDISH
Opaque white glass
Place of origin unknown, mid/late 19th century.
In the form of a hen on a nest.
Presented by Mrs Judith de Wet in 1964.
64/182

CLOISONNÉ PLATTER
Japan/China, 19th century.
Motifs of a stork and a tree with flowers on a turquoise background. Back of platter also covered in turquoise cloisonné. Metal rim.
3244

CLOISONNÉ PLATTER
China, 19th century.
Motifs of a bird, butterflies and flowers on a pink background. Back of platter covered with blue cloisonné. Metal rim.
3245

DECANTERS
Press-moulded glass, white metal
Place of origin unknown, late 19th/early 20th century.
Presented by Mrs Maria Ludovina Leao Gonçalves in 1985.
85/71 [a-b]

DUCK-SHAPED TUREENS
Porcelain. Meissen, Germany, c. 1787.
Bequest: Estate Late Humphrey Talbot, 1944.
4640 & 4654

FIGHTING COCKS
Silver
Portuguese.
Doris Tothill Bequest.
B86/130 [a, b]

FIRST DAY ENVELOPES
South Africa & former South African homelands Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda.
In most countries in the world, including South Africa, birds have always been a popular philatelic theme. A selection of First Day envelopes from South Africa and the former South African homelands Transkei, Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda.

FLOWER BOWL
Press-moulded opaline glass
By Ezan, France, 20th century.
Birds and other motifs in the Art Nouveau style.
S80/5

GEORGE HALLETT
Bo-Kaap, 1997
silver print 2/25
GEORGE HALLETT
Children and Birds, Bo-Kaap, 1996
silver print 4/25

GEORGE HALLETT
Man Feeding Birds, Bo-Kaap,1998
silver print 2/25

GEORGE HALLETT
The Birdman of Bo-Kaap, 1997
silver print 2/25

LARGE VASES on wooden stands
Lacquered porcelain. Japanese, 19th century.
Presented by Miss M Wilman in 1922.
251 [a, b]

MIRROR
Brass
Chinese, 19th century.
Mirror with bamboo wrapping around handle. Relief decoration depicting herons, tortoise and foliage. The flip side is the mirror, a highly polished metal surface.
6077

OSTRICH FEATHER CAPE
South Africa, 1934 - 1935.
The feathers were especially selected by the donor's husband, who had the cape made up for her. She first wore it to a ball in London.

Presented by Mrs D. Stein.
87/275 [a]

OSTRICH FEATHER FAN with bone sticks
South Africa, early 20th century.
This fan was presented to the museum in memory of the late Mrs E. E. Dyer (1894 - 1988), whose property it was. She lived in Oudtshoorn, a place famous for its ostrich plumes at the time. Presented by Mrs R. K. MacAlister.
92/684

PAPERWEIGHT
Glass. Japanese, 20th century.
Bird amongst reeds.
Bequest: Estate Late Mrs L Orr-Peitersen, 1998.
98/182 [aa]

PARROTS
Porcelain. China, probably 20th century.
Bequest: Estate Late Mrs WA Lidderdale, 1977.
B77/40 [a, b]

PART TEA SERVICE
Porcelain
Royal Worcester Porcelain Company, England, c. 1876.
4545 [b, d]

PLATE
Earthenware, Willow pattern. England, late 19th century.
Presented by Miss H Buyskes in 1959.
3117

PLATTER
Porcelain. Arita, Japan, late 17th century.
Decorated in underglaze blue with two hó-ó birds (or phoenixes), pomegranates and camellias surrounding the VOC (Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie) monogram. The broad everted rim with wide lappets decorated alternatively with peony shrubs, prunus and bamboo.
Koopmans-De Wet Collection, 1913.
39 [b]

SILVER COINS
Athens, fifth century BC.
The design of Athenia on the obverse and her sacred bird, the owl, on the reverse was introduced in the late sixth century BC. These coins are commonly known as the Athenian owls.

SPICE-BOX
Bronze. India, c. 19th century.
In the shape of a six-petalled flower, each petal surmounted by a small mythical bird with six tiny birds acting as legs, and a larger bird in the centre.
3868
THREE FLYING DUCKS
Earthenware. John Beswick Ltd., England, 1950s/1960s.
90/607 [a-c]
TILE
Earthenware. Dutch Delft, Hugo Brouwer, 1772.
85/183

VASE
Opaline glass
English, late 19th century.
Bird on a twig.
Part of the Roza van Gelderen Victorian Glass Collection.
70/221

EGYPTIAN OBJECTS
BA-BIRD
Egyptian alabaster
Egypt, 18th Dynasty [c. 1567-1320 BC].
The figurine has modern claws and legs in bronze, and mounted on Egyptian jasper. The ba is the soul or spirit of a man and can leave the mummy. It can take many forms, but is most often presented as a human-headed bird.
2938

COFFIN CASE
Linen canvas
Egypt, 20th Dynasty [c. 1200-1085 BC].
Painted section of a mummy case with the head-dress of the god Amun, surmounted by tall plumes and sun-disc, flanked by Thoth [left] and Horus [right].
1598

CANOPIC JAR with falcon head
Egyptian alabaster
Egypt, 26th Dynasty [c. 664-525 BC].
The internal organs of the corpse were placed in a set of four vessels during the mummification process, one of them being in the shape of a falcon. The jars were then placed in the tomb with the mummy. The stoppers of the jars represent the four Sons of Horus.
1724

PTAH-SOKAR-OSIRIS
Painted wood
Egypt, c. 300 BC.
This statue is a classic example of the syncretism of three ancient gods: Ptah was the Memphite creator god, Sokar the god of the Memphite necropolis, and Osiris the god of the Underworld.

After 1000 BC, non-royal burials often included this type of statue. Small papyrus scrolls with spells from the 'Book of the Dead' were placed in an opening under the bird.
1725


And:

Spotted Eagle Owls
(Bubo Africanus)
On loan
Courtesy of World of Birds, Hout Bay