This gallery shows a brief timeline of the history of taxidermy, starting in 400 B.C. Egypt all the way to Wisconsin in 2024. Throughout the evolution of the field, a specimens intended use has changed, but our want and need to preserve them has remained the same. The techniques used to prepare specimen has drastically changed with time and culture, as some early techniques used toxic chemicals like arsenic and mercury, leaving some mounts in museums to be a hazard to handle.
400 B.C. - 100 A.D.
Sacred animal mummy containing dog bones
ca. 400 B.C.–100 A.D.
From Egypt, Western Desert; Kharga Oasis, el-Deir, Roman Cemetery
H. 28 cm; W. 6.5 cm; D. 10 cm
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Egyptians would mummify animals alongside pharos as sacrifices or if they were their pets in their lifetime. This is the earliest preservation technique which used a salt mixture to dry out the body after all internal organs were removed. Then the animal would be wrapped in a linen and coated in a resin to stop further decay. This process is almost entirely similar to the way they would mummify human decedents. While this form of preservation is not always practiced in museums, it demonstrates early methods that have allowed specimen to be preserved for thousands of years. This specimen from the Met Museum, has been x-rayed which showed that the mummy is not complete and only contains a few ribs. This was common practice and can be considered a ‘substitute’ mummy.
1702
Duchess of Richmond’s African Grey,
preserved from the late 1600s
including wax effigy and costume
apx. 5 ft, 8 in
Westminister Abbey, London, UK
This African Grey is thought to be one of the oldest preserved birds in existence. It most likely survived this long from being held in a showcase. The bird is said to have lived with the Dutchess for 40 years and died soon after she did, providing an example of the preservation of pets as well as one of the oldest specimens of its kind. X-rays show that the entire skeleton of the bird is intact including its skull, which is an outdated practice. Today the majority of the skeleton would be removed and replaced with a foam-like material, but the skull, wing, and leg bones remain. Following the traditions of the Egyptians, people continued the practice of memorializing their pets through various forms of taxidermy.
1890
Taxidermy tools, glass eyes, parrot skin, via National Geographic
1902
Carl Akeley
“Four Seasons of the Virginia Deer”
1902
The Field Museum, Chicago, IL
Carl Akeley is considered the “father of modern taxidermy” as he made many expeditions to other countries in search of specimens to study and mount. He was one of the first people to place animals in their natural found habitat (dioramas). People were able to see animals they had never seen before in re-created habitats. During the development of this display, he also created the method of using a hollow manikin of mesh-reinforced papier-mâché that would be molded from a clay sculpture of the animal. This technique made the mounts extremely light and easily moveable compared to older mounts. “The Akeley Method” of molding became the standard and what people would learn from at the Field Museum in Chicago.
1930
Cecil the dog
taxidermied in 1930, (purchased by Andy Warhol in the 1960s)
44 in x 48 in
Cecil, whose original name was Ador Tipp Topp, was a show dog who won Best of Breed in the 1924 Westminster Kennel Club. After he died, he was stuffed as some people prefer to memorialize their pets through taxidermy. He was sold to an antique shop where artist Andy Warhol purchased him and used him as a guard dog in his studio, as well as a model for his art.
1944
Home Taxidermy for Pleasure and Profit
by Albert B. Farnham
1944
This book details the process of taxidermy for those who were interested in doing it at home. With an increase awareness of scientific accuracy and methods, more people began to be interested in the craft.
2012
Adele Morse
Stoned Fox
2012
Stoned Fox became a meme in the 2010s as it was a fitting reaction image or response to many situations. Morse acquired the fox from a groundskeeper, used doll eyes as she had never worked with fox before and did not have fox eyes, giving the fox his iconic expression.
2024
Hannah Stolz
Third Place Trophy in the 2024 Word Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championship
August 27, 2024
Parrot and Rambutan Fruit
Hannah Stolz from the Town of Wayne, WI, took third place in the 2024 World Taxidermy & Fish Carving Championship held in Coralville, Iowa. She entered the non-game bird division and explained some of the choices behind her piece stating, "The hanging parrot pose was inspired from a photo I found online of a wild one eating a rambutan fruit while hanging in that same pose. The rambutan fruit I molded from a real one then put together and hand painted. The leaves I was not able to get, so l cut down some very similar veined leaves and molded them. I made the branch with thin wooden dowels, epoxy sculpt for texture and then painted it.". Originating in the Victorian era, taxidermy competitions were places where people could show their skill and scientific accuracy. The same idea applies today and they offer artists a chance to network and bring awareness of wildlife conservation to the public.
This project is for educational use