Unwanted Osprey

A  famous study of a Loch Garten Osprey failed to sell at auction today (February 7).

The  pre-sale estimate for the imposing 77.5cm x 77.5cm oil-on-board by former Royal Marine Norman Orr (1924-1933)was that it would fetch between £700 and £1,000 but it seems no bidding reached even the lower end of this range.

Any buyer would also have had to pay a 22 per cent commission.

The possibility  is that auction house Tennants of Leyburn in North Yorkshire will now offer it another auction later in the year.