Rowland Ward – Wardian Furniture in Victorian England

Wardian Furniture

Rowland Ward invented Wardian Furniture.  It used animal parts to make interior decor and it became known as Wardian Furniture.

Founded in 1870, the company of Rowland Ward Limited became one of the most prestigious taxidermy businesses in the world.

Wardian Furniture

Wardian Furniture – invented by Rowland Ward – and embraced by Victorian England

Rowland Ward also became known for “animal furniture” which became known as Wardian Furniture.

It was typical in the 1870s – 1890s to see Bear Dumb Waiters, Elephant‑feet umbrella stands, candelabra made from Rhino Horn, Ostrich feet candle holders, and Horse hooves made into ash trays. These were manufactured en masse in England with the “left-over” bits of animals like tusks, skins, and feet that they couldn’t otherwise use in other displays or decor. See general post on Zoomorphic Furniture

Wardian Furniture became the rage in Victorian England alongside several other Victorian passions like the fad for feathers and Vivariums and Terrariums.

Today, it’s not so much a rage for fashion, as a rage against the continuing practice of killing for sport. This sadly, despite denials and excuses, does still exist and is often thinly camouflaged as “conservation” in the continual drive to make money by unscrupulous individuals and companies many of which I see working in the USA and South Africa, but these are not the only offenders, of course.

Photo  Tennants.co.uk

Article from The Strand Magazine, copyright free

Also see blog post on Zoomorphic furniture