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Victorian Taxidermy

Victorian taxidermy eternalised beautiful creatures.

It was born from the demand of the Victorians who wanted to display natural history and at the same time  show off their collections. 

Now, the best pieces of Victorian Taxidermy are sought after, fought over and treasured by collectors.

Original research at The Velvet Drawing Room now uncovers the styles, stories and the masterpieces of the Victorian Taxidermists whose legacy is left behind. 

Photo of leading Victorian Taxidermist & Naturalist, Walter Burton F.Z.S. 1854-1913
Courtesy of Helen Wright

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Rowland Ward Archive A

Rowland Ward: The Jungle and the Showman

video Burra Sahib

Van Ingen Brothers of Mysore Video

Victorian Snake Tattoo

Walter Burton, His Customer and The Victorian Snake Tattoo

Wild cat case 2 of 2 by Walter Burton FZS about 1891

Victorian taxidermy wild cats by Walter Burton sold at auction

The Lions Beneath The Petunias

Rowland Ward Special Edition Newsletter No. 1

Special Edition Newsletter no. 1 from the Lost Archive of Rowland Ward

Rowland Ward label

Free Download Rowland Ward Books,

The Jon Saggerson Collection of Rowland Ward Archive 6

The Afterlife of a Rowland Ward Kivu Gorilla

Rowland Ward Archive portrait photo from The Sketch Aug 1894

The Forgotten Rowland Ward Archive

Exposition_Universelle_d'Anvers_(1885)

Edward Gerrard & Sons Awards at Victorian World Expos

POLITOS MENAGERIE

Edward Gerrard was a witness to attempted murder at the British Museum in 1862

Fox by AJ Harris of Enfield dated 1890

AJ Harris of Enfield

BEWICK SWANS BY HENRY MURRAY IN STORAGE AT THE DOCK MUSEUM BARROW

Henry Murray cases discovered in storage

The life and times of Henry Murray of Carnforth

The James Gardner family rift

The Edward Gerrard Family Tree

Victorian Taxidermy ducks by James Gardner

The firm of James Gardner and Son. Taxidermists with a Royal Warrant.

James Gardner label is between 1862-1883 with this printed address combination

How to date the cases of James Gardner Victorian Taxidermist

Ploucquets tableaux pic from the Antiques Trade Gazette of 1981

Hermann Ploucquet’s sensational tableaux at The Great Exhibition 1851

EF Spicer shop Suffolk Street Birmingham 1922

E.F. Spicer Taxidermist of Birmingham

Peter Spicer’s Family

Fox Cubs case by Peter Spicer 1875

Peter Spicer of Leamington

Wild cats by Walter Burton FZS

Example work of the Victorian Taxidermist Henry James Burton and Son

AJ HARRIS AND HIS BROTHER WALTER OUTSIDE THEIR SHOP IN BUNTINGFORD

The Life of A.J. Harris of Enfield

photo of Walter Burton FZS Victorian Taxidermist 191 Wardour Street

Walter Burton FZS died by poisoning.

Henry James Burton & Son example label

Henry James Burton & Son

Dominion Museum Wellington Whale Skeleton Joseph Robert Burton and Sir James Hector

Joseph Robert Burton – Victorian Taxidermist

E.F. Spicer antique case of tropical birds native to Africa. Dated 1900-1910. Edwardian.

How to date the cases of E.F. Spicer Victorian Taxidermist

Walter Burton FZS

Walter Burton FZS, Naturalist, Taxidermist & Entomologist

Edward Gerrard & Son

The history of Edward Gerrard & Son

Edward Gerrard Victorian Taxidermist

The legacy of Edward Gerrard and Sons

Edward Gerrard label pre-1917

Edward Gerrard & Sons Labels

taxidermy hanging game birds by Ledot of Paris

Ledot of Paris

pratt and sons of Brighton label after 1904

Pratt of Brighton Victorian Taxidermists & Naturalists

The sad story of Nellie Pratt sister to Pratt of Brighton

Victorian Pratt Taxidermists. The sad story of their sister, Nellie

Rowland Ward The Jungle Piccadilly

Rowland Ward. Victorian Naturalist, Taxidermist, Sculptor, Artist

Rowland Ward signature and photo inside a Naturalists Life Study in Taxidermy

Rowland Ward. His dynasty and legacy.

Hutchings Aberystwyth Two Eurasian Teal in Victorian Case

Hutchings of Aberystwyth

Terrier by James Hutchings of Aberystwyth

Hutchings of Aberystwyth -The Richard Pratley Collection

Wardian Furniture

Rowland Ward – Wardian Furniture in Victorian England

Eastern Quoll by James Gardner sold at auction in 2025 by Tennants

Rare Eastern Quoll by James Gardner sells at auction in UK

Victorian Taxidermy Important case Boxing Badger Cubs by Peter Spicer

Boxing Badger Cubs by Peter Spicer

Monal Pheasant in a Victorian Dome by Spicer

Victorian Domed Monal Pheasant by Peter Spicer

The extinct Tasmanian Tiger

Zoomorphic Furniture Victorian. A pamphlet from Rowland Ward 1901

Zoomorphic Victorian Furniture

Edward Gerrard Obituary

Edward Gerrard Obituary

FEATURED

VICTORIAN TAXIDERMISTS

JAMES GARDNER

PETER SPICER
LEAMINGTON

ROWLAND WARD

EDWARD GERRARD

HENRY J. BURTON

ASHMEAD LONDON

WALTER BURTON

JAMES HUTCHINGS

PRATT & SONS
BRIGHTON

E.F.SPICER
BIRMINGHAM

HENRY
MURRAY

LEDOT
OF PARIS