Gauntlet Gallery — Complete Damien Hirst Print Index
Red Bird And Parrot With Shark Jaw (Small)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Red Bird and Parrot with Shark Jaw (Small) is a 2012 lithograph published by Other Criteria, signed and numbered in an edition of 75 at 495 x 380 mm (19 x 15 inches). It reproduces a Devon-studio still life in which exotic birds are arranged alongside a shark jaw, a direct callback to Hirst's earlier sculptural motifs.
Collector notes: The saved release record describes: Edition of 75. The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The inclusion of a shark jaw is the standout feature, explicitly linking this intimate still life to the predatory imagery of Hirst's landmark preserved-shark installations. It is a rare instance of the artist's conceptual vocabulary migrating into a traditional painted genre, making this one of the more narratively loaded prints in the bird series.
Collector Perspective
For collectors, the shark-jaw element adds a layer of Hirst iconography that the purely floral bird prints lack, giving it added conceptual interest at the same 75-edition scale. Signed and numbered, it functions as both a decorative still life and a coded reference to his signature themes. Confirm the (Small) format, as a larger companion edition exists.
Historical Context
Hirst has described these Devon still lifes as depicting natural and inanimate elements, sometimes memento mori, alongside objects that appeared in his sculptures and installations before. The shark jaw is exactly such a device, tying the print to The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living and his enduring meditation on predation and mortality.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned lithograph
- Release date
- 2012
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Lithograph; catalog dimensions 19 x 15 inches; Exquisitely coloured birds on display stands or in simple glass boxes, butterflies, fruit and cherry blossom at the peak of its beauty, intimate the pure joy of spring's transition into summer but also the temporal significance of this natural phenomenon.
- Edition details
- The saved release record describes: Edition of 75.
- Signature and marks
- The saved release record describes: signed; numbered. Verify each feature against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Damien Hirst's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: No per-work artist statement is recorded for this edition. Any thematic reading should be treated as interpretation of the imagery, not a documented statement of the artist's intent. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2012 and attributes the edition to Other Criteria. The saved description also notes: Published by Other Criteria.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- The saved release description references: Exquisitely coloured birds on display stands or in simple glass boxes, butterflies, fruit and cherry blossom at the peak of its beauty, intimate the pure joy of spring's transition into summer but also the temporal significance of this natural phenomenon. Confirm any original sleeve, tube, box, or backing board copy by copy.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to Other Criteria. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Saved release record — Art Collectorz · secondary catalog snapshot · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Starting record for title, year, edition, dimensions, medium, and release description. Primary confirmation against the original release page remains pending.
- Damien Hirst — official site — Damien Hirst studio (Science Ltd.) · primary artist source · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Official artist site; career context, not an individual-edition record.
- Damien Hirst — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Damien Hirst (Q294326) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
Why is there a shark jaw in the composition?
The shark jaw references motifs from Hirst's earlier sculptures and installations, notably his preserved-shark works, embedded within a traditional still life.
What is the edition and medium?
It is a lithograph published by Other Criteria, signed and numbered in an edition of 75.
What are its dimensions?
It measures 495 x 380 mm, roughly 19 x 15 inches.
Is there a larger version?
The (Small) designation indicates a companion larger-format edition of the same image.
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