HISTORY OF TROPHY FISH CARVING
Hardy Brothers
Alnwick, Northumberland, England
Hardy
Hardy

Other tackle firms like Hardy Brothers, were making their own fish carvings. They were founded in 1872, and in 1895 made their first fish model, however signed Hardy models are not known until 1907. From then until the mid 1930s, there were two artists who worked for Hardy; they are generally referred to as the "early" and the "late" Hardy makers. For the most part, the signed early Hardy's are usually half-models swimming to the left; however, a few of the earlier unmarked fish by the same maker are three quarter models swimming to the right. In both the early and late models, all the fins are carved in relief from the body like Malloch's models. The oldest late Hardy is a 1919 River Wye model.

Plate Vll shows the earliest known signed Hardy, It is signed with a neat, white bakelite or ivorine label, inletted into the bevelled edge of the backboard on the bottom left corner. The model is of a three pound,five ounce, brown trout that was caught in Lake Windemere in England's Lake District in 1907. It is a three-quarter model, swimming to the right, similar to the unsigned models by the same early Hardy maker.

Plate Vlll shows a thirty-six pound Atlantic Salmon caught on the River Don in Scotland, in 1920 . It is painted in spawning livery and carved with an open mouth displaying all of its teeth, tongue and kype. Most late Hardys are carved with the mouth closed, although the teeth are still evident.


Harry Nelson Ashford
London, England

Harry Nelson Ashford (1848 - 1929 ) was employed as a fish carver with Hardy brother's Tackle Company from 1907-1914. The company began carving custom trophy models for their customers in 1895. The majority of Ashford carvings are unsigned. He was perhaps the earliest London fish carver. Prior to working for Hardy Brothers, Ashford worked with piscatorial artist H. L. Rolfe.( Ronald S. Swanson )


H. N. Ashford fish carving
Plate VII- 3lb. 5oz. Brown Trout carved by Harry Nelson Ashford -1907
Hardy Brothers, London, England
Hardy Brothers fish carving

Carved by
Harry Nelson Ashford - Circa 1910
Mounted on a contemporary plaque
Hardy Brothers, England
$4600.00 US. at auction 2009
Hardy Brothers fish carving
Plate VIII- 36 lb. Atlantic Salmon, River Don
Scotland, carved by Hardy Brothers
England- 1920
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