Taxidermy is thought to
have been around for centuries. It is also considered to have been around as
long as the start of mankind. Whenever man killed an animal they would want a trophies
to commemorate their success. However the preservation side was poor and as a
result there are no clear records of the very beginning of taxidermy.
The Egyptians mummified their
cats, dogs and other animals upon their death and they were often buried with
the owners.
Taxidermy carried on
through to the Middle Ages where it seriously took a mighty twist. Birds where stuffed
and the skin preservation had improved considerably.
Taxidermy became
very popular during the Victorian era. People would go on their travels and
want a memento of where they had been. Many times this was a mounting of an
animal or bird. Also many museums started using mountings in their displays.
This gave taxidermists a lot of business. The art of anthropomorphic taxidermy
started about this time. This special niche of taxidermy uses animals in poses
that would actually be found in humans instead of animals. There is a very
famous piece that was done by Walter Potter. (SEE PREVIOUS POSTS) In this mounting kittens are posed
as if at a tea party.
Although taxidermy is not
as popular as it was in the Victorian era, it is still an art form which people
can appreciate. People still enjoy their trophies and museums still use mounts
in their displays. Today the art of preservation has reached its pinnacle and
the mounts will last for a very, very long time.
