Many Nevada hunters and anglers may have taken advantage of having a prized mount professionally prepared by a favorite local taxidermist……….
But do you know the history of taxidermy?
According to Wikipedia, the art of taxidermy evolved as consumer demand grew for quality leather and hides. During the Victorian era, taxidermy was an object of inner design and decor. In the 19th century, hunters began bringing their trophies to upholstery shops, where upholsterers would actually sew up the animal skins and stuff them with rags and cotton. The term “stuffing” or a “stuffed animal” evolved from this crude form of taxidermy. More sophisticated cotton-wrapped wire bodies supporting sewn-on, cured skins soon followed.
In 1793, a French taxidermist by the name of Louis Dufresne popularized arsenical soap by publishing an article regarding this substance he was using for his taxidermy at a French museum (Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle). This technique enabled the museum to build the greatest collection of birds in the world. In the early 20th century, taxidermy began to evolve into its modern form under the leadership of artists such as Carl Akeley, James L. Clark, William T. Hornaday, Coleman Jonas, Fredrick and William Kaempfer, and Leon Pray. These and other taxidermists developed anatomically accurate figures which incorporated every detail in artistically interesting poses, with mounts in realistic settings and poses that were considered more appropriate for the species……
It’s clear that taxidermy has a unique history; this form of wildlife art will remain respected by future generations of hunters and anglers for years to come!
If you’re in need of a taxidermist in your area, be sure to check out our Nevada Taxidermist resource listing on our website under the Hunting/Fishing tabs!