Trapdoor Spider: A Rare Collection of Nests, One Occupied, from Ladysmith, Natal; 1897 sub-Antiques with ebony inlaid frieze above

with ebony inlaid frieze above two short and three long drawers sitting on French splayed bracket feet with attractively shaped aprons to the sides and centre

this is a superb piece of fairground art that provides a show-stopping spectacle wherever it hangs

Shabby chic in style

The condition is good with only one section to the rear bottom lacking

London whilst collections of his work can be found in the British Library

Trapdoor Spider: A Rare Collection of Nests, One Occupied, from Ladysmith, Natal; 1897 sub-Antiques with ebony inlaid frieze aboveOrigin: South African Period: Late Nineteenth Century Provenance: Unknown Date: c. 1897 Lengths: Ranging from 2. 25 inches to 7. 5 inches Comprising one spider in a small trapdoor nest, four longer and vacant nests, and three other nest sections with fourteen nest lids, and additional hand written original paper label reading; Nest of Trapdoor Spider, Ladysmith Natal, 1897, fam. Theraphosidae, Cyrtocarenum rufidens. Each nest, made of soil, vegetation