Why taxidermy, why would one want to collect dead animals. Just the thought of it makes many cringe, others a lure that’s hard to explain, but I’ll try.
I don’t shoot animals, never did, never will. I do have a fascination for taxidermy. Growing up I always was in the woods, hiking, fishing, building a fort. I always enjoyed seeing all sorts of animals in their natural habitats. So I guess my fascination with taxidermy goes back to me seeing all the different wildlife as a kid. A good mount is an artform, a graceful rendition of an animal in a natural pose. Quality mounts are very realistic looking, like the real animal is in your home, I feel like a caretaker of sorts. I make sure all my taxidermy is displayed throughout my house, it makes for quite a conversation and looks great with other interesting items like artwork and sculpture. Over the years I have collected a few pieces, I don’t own a house full but a few that really spoke to me for one reason or another. Sitting atop my collectible’s cabinet is a giant anteater and a rare 19C. mounted turtle I was given as a gift many years ago. As you enter my house, you’ll be greeted by a 14’ pterodactyl, it’s not a real one but a sculpture of one that goes along with the theme. One of my favorites is a tiger skin rug, again a gift of a longtime friend and collector. The tiger rug is kept company with a beautiful black bear rug I found in an estate years ago. Many times, taxidermy is made in a collage under a glass dome and these can be very decorative. I have a flat dome with a tropical parrot surrounded by twelve different hummingbirds, which happen to be some of the most beautiful birds in the world. The iridescence of their feathers is something to see. It shimmers in the light and reflects a variety of colors from all angles. All my taxidermy mounts are antique and/ or historical like the skull of a lion in my living room that is a stark reminder of illegal hunting of big cat’s around the world. The skull was featured in National Geographic magazine and shows the entry would of the bullet that killed this mighty animal. Along with these specimens I also own an albino lobster, fisher cat, horse skull and testicles from a famous racehorse. I guess you never know what people collect and why, some things just speak to you, other just look at you.
