Taxidermy, an ancient art of preserving the body of an animal, for display or decoration, has been around for centuries. Although taxidermy is no longer as prevalent as it used to be earlier, here, we will look at a few interesting things about the history, practice, etc. about taxidermy which you probably didn’t know. Learn more information on Taxidermist Tempe AZ, Taxidermy Tempe AZ, Exotic Taxidermy Tempe AZ click on the links.
- Taxidermy was practiced by Captain James Cook as well as Charles Darwin. It was Captain James Cook who had bought the first kangaroo skin back to London in the year 1771. Famous naturalist Charles Darwin also had to learn the skill as otherwise he wouldn’t be allowed to travel as a naturalist, on the HMS Beagle without this skill.
- The first taxidermy competition in the US was held in the year 1880. William Hornaday’s A Fight in the Tree-Tops, which depicted two male Bornean orangutans fighting over a female, had won the first prize. The scene was highly accurate scientifically and therefore, it changed the purpose of taxidermy. It started inspiring several other taxidermists to aim for such accuracy.
- In the early days, taxidermy mounts used to be stuffed with rags or sawdust without any regard for the anatomy. This is the reason the models used to be disfigured. Today, taxidermists may however buy a mannequin which they can sculpt in order to achieve the position they desire, then stretch and sew the skin over it. They can also use an old method, such as winding the body shape out of string.
- The word taxidermy comes from the Greek words taxis, meaning arrangement and derma meaning skin. The first person to use it was Louis Dufrene, of the Museum national d’Historie naturelle in Paris. It was written in around 1803 in the reference book Nouveau dictionnaire d’histoire naturelle.
If you need any services of custom taxidermy in Phoenix, Arizona, or Mesa, Arizona, you can get in touch with Southwest Wildlife Taxidermy, run by Jim Hartsock, a taxidermist with over 25 years of experience. He has always been interested in the anatomy of various animal species, and this inspires him to create artistic and anatomically correct trophies of various animals.
If you are looking for services of custom taxidermy in Mesa, AZ, or in Phoenix, AZ, he is definitely a wise choice!
