Peter Spicer’s Style
Peter Spicer of Leamington (b. 1839 d. 1935) obtained world-wide repute, and his cased work is characterised by evocative watercolour painted backdrops and highly realistic bases made from papier-mâché with dried vegetation and real, signed flat grey pebbles which was a trademark way of identifying his work.
The firm traded as Peter Spicer & Sons after 1904. Note that after 1921 the signed pebbles in their cases were discontinued, replaced with signed groundwork. This happened after Peter Spicer’s retirement and the references to ” & Sons” was dropped, so this is an indicative way of dating the earlier cases.
His cases are also “generously sized”, leaving plenty of room for the interior scene which is as important as the animal.
Since Peter was also an accomplished artist, the backdrops are of particular significance, and they are very well done in a way that does not dominate the scene but enhances it.
Where Spicer’s work is not in cases, you will find the likes of the otter, fox and badger masks on shields have “Peter Spicer & Sons” stamped on the back.
Spicer’s work is coveted by collectors and fetches strong prices at auction.
Peter Spicer of Leamington
The Best Taxidermist Britain Has Ever Seen
Peter Spicer Taxidermist and Naturalist
Peter Spicer of Leamington (b. 1839 d. 1935) – Taxidermist and Naturalist – established in 1864 is considered one of the best, if not the best, Taxidermists that Britain has ever seen.
Although Henry and Rowland Ward do also legitimately own that title, each firm is known for having different specialties, Spicer’s being countryside animals and Ward’s being Big Game, although both firms handled a wide range of mammals, insects and birds.
Taxidermists | Naturalists | Furriers | Glovers | Plumassiers | Artists | 1864-1959 |
Taxidermists | Naturalists | Furriers | Glovers | Plumassiers | Artists | 1864-1959 |
Peter Spicer of Leamington.
Spicer’s family had been in business as Taxidermists and Naturalists in Warwickshire, England for 116 years since 1798 until the firm’s closure in 1959. They had mounted everything ranging from butterflies to elephant heads and are perhaps known best for the mounting of countryside animals and their fox heads. Spicer cases and their shields are much sought after today and can command high prices. For examples see The Boxing Badger Cubs and an iconic and important 19th century Otter Case
The life and work of Peter Spicer of Leamington is very well documented, both by Christopher Frost in his book entitled “A History of British Taxidermy” and by Rob Chinnery in his book “A Record of Spicers”.
Aside from the copyright obligations and restrictions, it’s obvious that I would not want to deliberately present any content from these books to deliver an article here.
I research all subjects independently and present my own potted history, in my own style.
I searched through hundreds of digital records and created from scratch the Spicer family tree – capturing, and organising, all those small but essential details of births, deaths, and marriages. I researched and read through many old adverts and newspapers to build a picture.
Personally, I love all the people details that this research throws up because it just brings them back to life. We can see the real people who were behind this historic and very special art form.
The reader can further refer to Christopher Frost’s book entitled “A History of British Taxidermy” and to Rob Chinnery’s book “A Record of Spicers” for a much more in-depth analysis of the Spicers, but my article here, I hope, is an interesting overview of the Spicer legend.
An Overview Of The Spicer Legend - 1864 - 1959
Peter Spicer's background
Peter Spicer came from a family of craftsmen and traders including farmers, saddlers, trophy makers and apothecaries and he was a self-taught artist. His basic taxidermy skills were learned from his father, but Peter took this only as a basis, and developed his own style of taxidermy and presentation of it.
It is generally accepted that his ancestor’s business began in 1798 when Thomas Spicer, Peter’s grandfather, traded as a saddler in Wellesbourne & Warwickshire, about five miles from Stratford upon Avon.
Peter Spicer was one of six children. His father John Spicer (1812-1866) and his mother Emma (nee Heynes) first set up home over 33 Jury Street, Warwick and ran an Apothecary and Taxidermy shop. It was common for Victorian taxidermists to offer other goods and services in their shops alongside their taxidermy so that they could make ends meet, including unlikely things like hairdressing and sewing. An Apothecary was like a chemist and a general store that sold soap and household items as well as dispensing potions mixed from herbs and minerals, so it needed a bit of expertise. In Europe it was common for the alignment of naturalists with medical men, and often both were also associated with curios.
Shakespeare wrote about this in Romeo and Juliet (Act 5, Sc 1)
Romeo:
“I do remember an apothecary—And hereabouts he dwells—which late I noted In tattered weeds, with overwhelming brows, Culling of simples.
Meager were his looks, Sharp misery had worn him to the bones, And in his needy shop a tortoise hung, An alligator stuffed, and other skins Of ill-shaped fishes;
and about his shelves A beggarly account of empty boxes, Green earthen pots, bladders and musty seeds, Remnants of packthread and old cakes of roses, Were thinly scattered to make up a show”.
The Spicers also traded in artificial glass eyes which they made themselves and in British and foreign animal skins.
in May 1865 when Peter had been married only 5 months, his father unexpectedly died after a freak accident after he was thrown by a horse when he was acting as a trumpeter in the Warwickshire Yeomanry; sadly, he never recovered and died in August 1866, aged just 55.
John Spicer’s wife, Emma, continued to run a Taxidermist business after his death under her own label but I do not know of any extant taxidermy examples by either John or Emma Spicer (perhaps in Warwick Museum – I will have to pay a visit and see) and I have no information about the extent of the quality of John Spicer’s taxidermy work. Interestingly, I found an old advertisement from October 1866 in which Emma Spicer advertises for business. This is just about one year after her husband’s death, and she states that she is going to employ a workman to support her and assures her clientele of continuing good quality work to the same standard as always. I cannot prove whether Emma Spicer did any taxidermy herself either during her husband’s lifetime or afterwards.
Clipping in the Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser 6 Oct 1866
Peter Spicer’s Early Business
1864
Advertisements show that Peter established his own business in 1864 as a taxidermist, glover and plumassier just a few miles away from the family home in Warwick after he moved to a new shop in Leamington Spa at No 4 Upper Parade and dealt in skins of animals and birds in various forms.
Finally, he moved his business to 6 Victoria Terrace from where he worked until his retirement. No. 6 Victoria Terrace and No. 10 Victoria Terrace (often referred to) are basically the same place. Victoria Terrace was re-numbered after 1875 and previously it was given as Bath St.
The juxtaposition of working as a taxidermist, glover and plumassier can be understood when we consider that there was a fashion craze in England in the mid-1800s, and feathers were everywhere. Taxidermists, who were dealing in exotic birds coming from all over the globe took advantage of the business opportunity that landed in their lap and made everything from handbags to hats for the fashionable ladies of the day.
1872
Peter Spicer of Leamington was described as ‘well-known’ and in the following years he was lauded as probably the best taxidermist in the country, if not the world. One of his noted rivals was Quatremain of Stratford upon Avon, as was Rowland Ward. Quatremain was also good artist and a naturalist.
1873 – 1876
Peter was clearly an artist. He was praised for the quality of his window display in 1873 and by 1876 he was also being recognised for the quality of his drawings of birds and animals. He continued to paint right up until his death in 1935. His son, Gilbert, was also adept at painting but he doesn’t seem to have commanded the same attention for his art that Peter did for his.
Read about Peter’s marriages and children
Clipping from The Atherstone Times, 1879
Expansion of the business: Inverness and New Street, Leamington
The Expansion of the Business: Inverness and New Street
1889-90 The Spicers expanded and opened a shop in Inverness during the 1890’s at 60, Academy Street to receive Highland Sporting Trophies from the big estates in Scotland and these would be sent to Leamington to be prepared.
They also opened a workshop at New Street, Leamington in 1889. This is significant. The volume of work must have demanded it because they also had 4 floors at Victoria Terrace. They used this workshop building to prepare their mounts up until the business closed over 60 years later. The New Street workshop had previously been the property of taxidermist E H Maycock. There was a William Maycock in Bath Street in 1856 and E H Maycock was at No 32 New Street in 1886; it is likely that they were related.
In 1897 we see Peter Spicer advertising as a Naturalist, Furrier, additionally as a supplier of entomological apparatus. The advert is very simple, but it tells a story. Collecting insects and butterflies was a gentleman’s preoccupation at that time, as travellers and explorers were continuing to seek and bring back exotic insects from the farthest corners of the world. Furs were in demand and the gentlemen collectors were in abundance. Walter Rothschild had opened his natural history museum in Tring five years earlier and collecting was all the rage, so Peter Spicer is taking full advantage of new trends.
Advertisements by Spicer
Country Life, April 1901
1904-1914 Is the peak of the Spicer Business
1904-1914
By this time, the business had created for itself a high profile with Royalty and most of the landed gentry in Britain. The firm was well known for mounting native species of countryside animals – Fox, Otter, Deer, Birds and the like, and this was their notoriety although they mounted exotic species as well.
The firm was more than well-established during this period, and was famous across Britain, by this time trading as Spicer and Sons with Peter’s sons Gilbert and William working in the business at Victoria Terrace, Leamington. In total at this time Spicer’s had 17 employees. In the same year Peter Spicer produced a promotional booklet entitled “Fine Art Examples of Taxidermy”
In the firm’s advert for the Illustrated Brochure in The Field in 1904, we still see simplicity with their advertising, and it’s noted that the commercial address is only advertised as “Leamington”. In 1907 we see another advert again in The Field for the Spicer business, but this time it’s a bit more expressive, because Peter Spicer is using references to help to sell his work.
In this advert the reference is from Mr Frank Goodall who states, “In my opinion, there is NO-ONE that can set up a Fox’s Head so well and lifelike as yourself”. Alongside the Spicer advert we see Spicer’s equally excellent contemporary, Rowland Ward, advertising, also for bird stuffing and work on small animals. Rowland Ward’s business was at “The Jungle” in Piccadilly, and Rowland would go on to be known for his Big Game taxidermy.
Promotion of the Spicer Business: The Art of the Taxidermist
In 1912 we also see how the firm of Peter Spicer of Leamington is locally celebrated. Gilbert Spicer, his son from his second marriage, was astute when it came to advertising the Spicer business and he was good at writing articles and having them published. An early PR and Marketing Specialist!
There’s an editorial reference in the Leamington Spa dated Sept 7th, 1912, entitled “The Art of the Taxidermist” which refers to an article by Gilbert Harry Spicer submitted to the County Gentleman. I am unable to find the original article, but I am still looking, and “The County Gentleman” was not a publication, but a section in The Sporting Gazette.
Promotion of the Spicer Business: Stalking Records and Westley Richards
In 1912, and 1913 Peter Spicer publishes two books “Stalking Records”. These promise to become an annual record of hunting and stalking of a wide variety of trophies, including deer, from the estates across Britain. This was a brilliant advertisement for the Spicer business.
These books also have references to the English gun maker Westley Richards. I wonder if Gilbert was behind setting these books up, since he had shown a talent for advertising the business previously. It seems there were only two publications before the 1st World War, which interrupted everything, and I have seen a copy for sale of Stalking Records of 1928, and also Stalking Records of 1923, so obviously the books were resumed but I am unaware of which other years were published – I just haven’t found them yet….
The War Interrupts: Inverness Closes
In September 1916 a Public Notice appears in the Northern Chronicle stating that the Peter Spicer business will close in Inverness and that parcels and work should be diverted to the shop at Leamington. Their manager and men have all gone on active service. The war ruined everything.
During the same year, the Spicer firm made wax dolls to raffle in support of the Red Cross for the war effort. It’s not known where these wax dolls ended up.
In 1916 and 1919 we see adverts in the local press focussed on the furrier part of the Spicer trade, including prices for different types of fur garments including fur coats. In 1916 one advert states that a new showroom has been opened at their Victoria Terrace premises to deal specifically in furs.
In July 1918 Spicer & Sons applied for exemption of their remaining single employee from call-up. Before the war they had 17 employees – all now gone – leaving the business to try to survive.
Foxes, Fox Hounds and Fox Hunting
by Richard Clapham 1920
This vintage book contains a comprehensive guide to fox hunting. Printed in 1920 it gives a perspective at the time of hunting of the fox, based on the author’s personal experiences in the Lake District.
Although emotionally I find it difficult to read, undoubtedly it’s an important cultural history. Of the many interesting details it includes references to Peter Spicer of Leamington….
It’s in the exact context of this book, that the subject of the “Coniston Fox” comes alive. A famous tableau made by Peter Spicer, the Coniston Fox symbolises the culture and environment of the height of fox hunting in England, and the business of taxidermists like Peter Spicer. The Coniston Fox is now in the private collection of Rob Chinnery at Kendall House Antiques
“Of ten fox masks beautifully mounted for me by Spicer and Sons, of Leamington, and now in my possession, I can give the following dimensions taken with a steel tape. These measurements, although perhaps not coinciding exactly with those of the living animals, will however give a fair general idea.
From between the ears to end of nose six andone eighth of an inch to six and a half inches. From between eyes to end of nose, three inches to three and three eighths of an inch. From root to tip of ear, three and a half inches and upwards. A fox has large ears, and the above measurement errs on the short side”.
Download this book free from The Velvet Drawing Room
Foxes Foxhounds and Fox Hunting by Richard Clapham 1920 copyright free
1920-1921: The Business Changes
The partnership between the father and his two sons William Sydney Spicer and Gilbert Harry Spicer was dissolved upon Peter Spicer’s retirement in 1921 after which they agreed between themselves to separate their interests and did this with a legal agreement which was published in the local paper. **
William continued with the taxidermy & naturalist business while Gilbert went on to work independently as a wholesale furrier and glover.
Sadly, in 1922 (only about a year after taking on the business as furrier) Gilbert Harry Spicer, furrier and glove maker with a company named “Spicer’s, Glovers” trading at 3, Colonnade, Leamington, was adjudged to be bankrupt to the tune of a deficiency to pay his creditors of £11,000. Gilbert eventually moved out of the area to live and work in Worcester in the 1930’s and continued his glove business there.
**Since I researched this, I have read references to a dishonest accountant named Mr Hawkins in the book by Rob Chinnery “A Record of Spicers”.
In 1929 Spicers lodged a rates appeal case (see clipping).
It was stated that Spicers occupied all four floors of No 10 Victoria Terrace. It was said that the business was mainly creating products on commission or for sale and only 7% of the business was regarded as retailing. They won the rating appeal case and reading through the clipping it appears that Peter’s son, William Spicer, had a very good business head on him at this point and argued strongly to win the appeal. This clipping is also an interesting insight into the machinations of the Spicer business and its worth taking a few minutes to read for its revealing picture of the scope of their enterprise.
Around 1930 William Spicer who was by this time President of the Leamington Rotary Club (of which he was the founder), gave an insight into the scale of the business in a newspaper interview. He said that in a typical year they created up to 600 fox masks in the hunting season and 200 stags’ heads, so there was a form of mass-production going on, with a range of sizes of premade plaster and papier-mâché skulls.
Peter Spicer died in 1935
Peter Spicer, Taxidermist, Naturalist, Artist, died on 20th January 1935 when he was living at ‘Selbourne’, No 16 Leam Terrace East, at the age of 96 years.
The funeral arrangements were carried out by the firm of H.J. Dawson for whom, it is said, Spicers sometimes helped with the making of coffins. Peter was interred with his wife in Leamington Cemetery.
Peter left £769 3s 6d gross to his son, William Sydney and there is no mention of him leaving anything for his son Gilbert Harry and I assume that the legalities of the business split in 1921 had dictated this. In today’s money that’s worth about £45,500. I noted that when William Sydney died in 1960, he left £15,508 and in today’s money that’s worth about £290,000, so I think it’s obviously safe to say at the very least that the Taxidermy business run by the Spicer family was, shall we say, very successful.
1948-1960 and beyond
After 1948 the Victoria Terrace premises where the skins were prepared was let go, and all the business was combined and continued at New Street, and it would last another ten years.
1959. Spicer & Sons finally closed in 1959 after they were unable to recruit trainees to replace two long-standing retirees, Mr Frederick Robottom (cabinetmaker) and Mr Edward Thacker (company secretary) both over 70 at the time of closing. Spicer’s family had been in business as Taxidermists and Naturalists for 116 years.
Amongst the tasks involved in closing the business down in 1959 was the need to find a buyer for the sale of 30,000 artificial eyes ranging from the smallest mammal to the largest animals. American buyers were interested after an article appeared in a newspaper in Chicago about the closure, but the whole batch was sold to an Englishman before any American letters could be replied to. Imagine what may have happened today with instant communications……
At the time of closing Mr Robottom (born in 1890) was the Spicer cabinetmaker and had joined the firm in about 1910 at the young age of 20yrs. “In those days”, he says, “we set up about 130 stags heads from Scotland every season in addition to lions, tigers, and rhinos from all parts of the world. Now, instead of big game trophies we stuff badgers, otters and domestic pets; as for stags, Glasgow poachers have ruined the best strains, and it is years since we mounted a good 12-pointer”.
In 1960 If there had ever been previously a glimmer of hope that the business could be reignited, then the death of William Sydney Spicer a year later finally ensured the business was gone forever. He died at his daughter’s residence at Emscote Road, Warwick, and left behind his second wife, Lilian Mary.
In 2022 the ex-taxidermy shop at Victoria Terrace became home to a newly opened craft beer bar named ‘The Boiler Room’. An appropriate name in a way, isn’t it? I bet almost none of its customers today know what the premises used to be, and there is no reference or decoration in the building today relating to its history – shame; I think that’s a missed opportunity, but what do I know?!
| Publication | Date | Subject |
| Atherstone Times | 6 Sept 1879 | Peter Spicer Art Exhibition |
| Birmingham Daily Gazette | Dec 1919 | Story on Gilbert Spicer, baby death |
| Birmingham Daily Post | Sep 1960 | Obituary William Spicer |
| Birmingham Daily Post | Sep 1959 | Closure of Spicers |
| Birmingham Daily Post | Sep 1960 | Funeral Announcement: William Spicer |
| Country Life | Apr 1901 | Photograph of Spicer Case & testimonial |
| Country Life | Sep 1913 | Review of Spicer book and article |
| Country Life | June 1913 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Country Life | May 1913 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Coventry Evening Telegraph | May 1977 | Wax Dolls for the Red Cross by Spicer |
| Coventry Evening Telegraph | Oct 1959 | Closure of Spicers |
| Coventry Herald | 25 Aug 1922 | Gilbert Spicer Bankruptcy |
| Coventry Standard | Sep 1916 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Coventry Standard | Dec 1916 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Illustrated Sporting and Drama | July 1913 | Stalking Records advertisement |
| Illustrated Sporting and Drama | Aug 1913 | Spicer Advertisement Gilbert Spicer presence in Inverness |
| Leamington Spa Courier | 12 Sept 1874 | Death of Ann Ward |
| Leamington Spa Courier | 28 Jan 1865 | Marriage Announcement Spicer Ward |
| Leamington Spa Courier | 2 Sept 1921 | Spicer’s legal agreement 1921 |
| Leamington Spa Courier | 25 Jan 1935 | Death Peter Spicer |
| Leamington Spa Courier | Nov 1919 | Spicer Advertisement
|
| Leamington Spa Courier | Dec 1919 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Leamington Spa Courier | Sep 1877 | Marriage announcement Spicer Williams |
| Leamington Spa Courier | July 1948 | Closure of Victoria Terrace and move to New Street |
| Leamington Spa Courier | Jan 1914 | Gilbert Spicer resignation from Leamington Museum |
| Leamington Spa Courier | Oct 1929 | Rates Case: Spicer business |
| Leamington Spa Courier | Sep 1912 | Story on Gilbert Spicer article “Art of Taxidermy” |
| Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth Advertiser | Apr 1897 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Midland Daily Telegraph | Jan 1935 | Death Announcement: Peter Spicer |
| Northern Chronicle | Feb 1914 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Northern Chronicle | Oct 1912 | Inverness shop advertisement |
| Northern Chronicle & General Advertiser | Sep 1916 | Closure of Inverness premises |
| Northern Chronicle & General Advertiser | Sep 1913 | Spicer Advertisement for Inverness business |
| Northern Chronicle & General Advertiser | Aug 1912 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Oban and West Highland Times | Oct 1935 | Spicer Advertisement |
| The Field | Jan 1907 | Spicer Advertisement |
| The Field | Nov 1904 | Spicer Advertisement |
| Warwick & Warwickshire Advertiser | Oct 1866 | Emma Spicer advertisement |
| Warwick & Warwickshire Advertiser | Jan 1922 | Gilbert Spicer, The Mikado |
