Tim Flach British, b. 1958
Miniature Crested Duck, 2021
Series: Birds
C-Type print
43 x 52 cm
16 7/8 x 20 1/2 in
16 7/8 x 20 1/2 in
Edition of 10 plus 2 artist's proofs
'These birds have been bred for centuries to enhance their crested appearance, but the dominant allele that lends these birds their comical crowns can also be lethal, with embryos that...
"These birds have been bred for centuries to enhance their crested appearance, but the dominant allele that lends these birds their comical crowns can also be lethal, with embryos that receive two copies of the crested gene invariably dying while they are still developing in the egg. To avoid this, breeders usually cross crested ducks with another breed, which preserves the dominant crested trait in half of the resulting offspring, and completely prevents the excess mortality associated with pure-breeding."
Excerpt from "Birds", published by Abrams, 2021
Excerpt from "Birds", published by Abrams, 2021