after the death of his wife, rossetti leased a tudor house at 16, cheyne walk, in chelsea, where he lived for 20 years surrounded by extravagant furnishings and a parade of exotic birds and animals. rossetti was fascinated with wombats, asking friends to meet him at the "wombat's lair" at the london zoo in regent's park, and spending hours there. in september 1869, he acquired the first of two pet wombats, which he named "top". it was brought to the dinner table and allowed to sleep in the large centrepiece during meals. rossetti's fascination with exotic animals continued throughout his life, culminating in the purchase of a llama and a toucan, which he dressed in a cowboy hat and was trained to ride the llama round the dining-table for his amusement.