Legendary Snake Catcher, England, c. 1885

Harry ‘Brusher’ Mills (1840 – 1905) became a folk hero in Southern England in the late nineteenth century. He rid local properties of snakes, using little more than a forked stick, a pair of tongs, and a sack. He was a popular character in the village of Brockenhurst, regularly telling stories and enjoying a drink at The Railway Inn, which has since been renamed The Snakecatcher in his honor. In this portrait, a young Brusher poses with snakes and his tools.
 
Stamped: “Goya” Art Studio, Waterloo Bridge, Christchurch
 
Photographer: “Goya” Art Studio, Waterloo Bridge, Christchurch
Format: Framed and sealed Cabinet Card
Size: 4.5 x 6.5
Condition: Very Good