Taxidermy

At UKAA we buy and sell good items of taxidermy and we are always on the lookout for something special.

Taxidermy is the art of mounting the skins and skeletons of animals for display.

All vertebrate species of animal can be mounted, this includes fish, amphibians, birds and mammals.

These items were often displayed in museums, privates houses or as hunting trophies.

Original antique Victorian taxidermy of a stuffed full size male polar bear also known as Ursus maritimus has been stuffed by a skilled traditional taxidermist

At UKAA we always try and source the best quality items by the finest taxidermists, in the Victorian era leading taxidermists include L W Barlett, T E Gunn, and E F Spicer, to name just a few. 

Deer heads and antlers are very collectable and are often mounted on beautiful wooden shields with a description of when they were shot and a date. These are known as Hunting Trophies and will often have been mounted to tell a story. 

original antique Victorian taxidermy stuffed real deer head hunting trophies with antlers are available to view in our antiques shop in Staffordshire  
The finest taxidermist of fish was J Cooper & Sons. The fish were displayed in glass fronted cases and some of the best examples were bow fronted, they are absolutely stunning. J Cooper & Sons operated from London in the early part of the nineteenth century. Popular fishes that were stuffed were prize Trout, Perch, Rudd, Pike, and Roach.

Antique original Victorian taxidermy of a common carp fish which has been stuffed by J Cooper and son taxidermists 
Taxidermy goes back a long way and was first practised by the Ancient Egyptians and later by the natural historians. This was initially done for the preservation and recording of the animal kingdom. This was a very important part of history and was beneficial for education.

The Great Exhibition, which took place in Hyde Park, London, in 1851, included a number of taxidermy exhibits. Hermann Ploucquet, a German taxidermist, exhibited anthropomorphic taxidermy: animals engaged in human activity. The Morning Chronicle of August 12, 1851 noted that Ploucquet’s exhibits were "one of the most crowded points of the Exhibition". The Great Exhibition, which attracted some six million visitors, is generally held to be the turning point for taxidermy; many of the displays were of a high technical standard and utilized great artistry in scenes and tableaux that, compared to the simply posed species on display in museums, provoked great excitement. Queen Victoria recorded in her diary that Ploucquet's work was "marvellous".

Taxidermy has gone in and out of fashion but it is having a real revival at the moment and it is a very sound investment.

Antique original taxidermy of a bulls head which has been stuffed by a taxidermist this item is ideal for steak houses, grills, bars and restaurants

Animal Skeletons and sculls are also popular along with other curiosities.

Original antique reclaimed Victorian antlers from a European roe deer or small deer hunting trophies are available to view and buy from our reclamation yard in Staffordshire 
One of the finest pieces that UKAA have sourced is a rare Victorian Polar Bear ‘Boris’

Boris is a male Victorian Polar bear. He is constructed using woodwool bound with string and has primitive hand blown glass eyes, the nuts fixing him to the base are all handmade. The base is a magnificent piece of oak trunk in its primitive shape measuring 38 inches. He comes complete with his certificate from D.E.F.R.A.

From the floor to the top of his head the total height is 2.5 meters (8ft 3" tall). A very impressive piece of Victorian taxidermy at is absolute best.

Victorian original taxidermy of a Ursus maritimus also known as a male polar bear which is free standing this is a genuine antique item which has been stuffed by a taxidermist

Original unusual rare taxidermy of a black bulls head which has been traditionally made by a taxidermist in the UK this item can be viewed in our showroom
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