An ever-changing array of fascinating art and antiques
Tennants Auctioneers is privileged to handle a diverse range of art, antiques and rare and beautiful objects with a rich history. From large private Country House collections to exquisite 18th century costume, colourful Moorcroft pottery to vintage toys and train sets, we have the opportunity to display many fascinating objects for visitors to enjoy before they once more return to a private collection and away from public sight.
Open seven days a week, the Galleries are free for all to enjoy.
A unique facility
Our state of the art display galleries allow us to showcase your items and collections ahead of sale and to promote the many fascinating, rare and beautiful objects we are privileged to handle.
To discuss exhibiting your collection ahead of sale at Tennants, please speak to your valuer or specialist.
TEXTILES, COSTUME & FASHION
24th November 2018
ZARAFA: THE FAMOUS FRENCH GIRAFFE
A Circa 1830s Quilt, composed of strips of different Indian block printed fabrics, decorated with birds with exotic tail feathers, faded floral designs, Chinese pagodas in similar colours, nesting birds and a flying bird with a fish in his mouth and a single mast sailing boat with two flags. However, the most interesting fabric can be found in the two outside strips. This fabric depicts 'Zarafa and Atir', the female Nubian giraffe gifted from Muhammed Ali of Egypt to King Charles X of France in 1827, and her devoted handler.
The young giraffe was captured in Sudan and taken to Khartoum on the back of a camel. Transferred onto a boat, she was taken down the Nile to Alexandria with the company of three cows who provided her with 25 litres of milk a day. From Alexandria, she was sailed across the Mediterranean in a boat with a hole in the deck to accommodate her height, accompanied by Sudanese servant Atir, who would stay with her for the rest of her life. Arriving in Marseilles in 1826, she was overwintered in the city, before being walked the 900km to Paris by Atir and a naturalist Etienne Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, and of course some cows! During the colder spells, she wore a yellow two-part coat and shoes. The extraordinary travelling party drew crowds wherever they went.
They arrived in Paris after 41 days, and Zarafa was presented to the King on 20th May 1827, before being moved to Les Jardin des Plantes. La Belle Africaine (as she was dubbed by the press) caused quite a sensation in Paris, inspiring writers, artists, hairstyles ('coiffure a la girafe' - where hair was propped high on the head to resemble two ossicones), giraffe-print fabrics and more. There was even a fashionable colour known as ‘belly of giraffe’. Zarafa lived in Paris for 18 years, under the constant and devoted eye of Atir.
Muhammed Ali gifted three giraffes to European royalty; along with Charles X, they were given to George IV and Francis I of Austria. They were the first giraffes to be seen in Europe since the Medici Giraffe was sent to Florence in 1486.
