Fish Taxidermy

We are always very interested in Purchasing Victorian Taxidermy, please respond via this on-line form of what you have for sale. HERE

We get asked to recommend Fish Taxidermist’s and Taxidermy Resources by our friends, we now include below a list of those we have had favourable feedback on this is not a complete list, if you don't find what your looking for then please feel free to contact us. If you also wish to link to us then your taxidermy information shall only be placed in the appropriate class.

Most of the fish on this page are from one collection
John Cooper & Sons
This company is perhaps the finest exponent of taxidermied fish certainly in Europe. They pioneered the use of materials and techniques that in the main are still in use today, if you wish to have a fish prepared and not just a cast replica. The company is appears was founded in 1830 by John Cooper and was in continuous trading for over 120 years. The style may have changed but the quality was also of the highest order. The trade labels so often found in the cases state that the principle premises were Radnor Street, London and then Bath Road Hounslow after the World War.
The cases that are more sought after these days are nearly always bowed in nature. 2mm float glass was employed to shown the specimen off in the best possible way and to also give a greater impression of water in the case. Whilst other firms created fish taxidermy, Coopers were by far the most proficient at it. Other who undertook fish taxidermy, were Rowland Ward, Peter Spicer, WF Homer, FW Anstiss, Williams of Dublin, Saunders, W Barnes and of course Griggs. Typically British Course fish and game fish were mounted to meet that specialist niche requirement and fish most commonly found are Pike, Trout, Bream, Tench, Roach, Rudd and Perch. Rarer fish such as Arctic Char, Bleak and Salmon were produced but these it appears were not the norm.
Cooper produced fish on an industrial scale and given the company’s tenure it is hardly surprising to find that many many examples of the cased fish have survived the 100 plus years. That said and perhaps given the prices that these cases fetch, it has tended to create a market for Cooper fakes. Merely transplanting a trade label into a lesser case or in some cases a complete re-creation / fake. Our suggestion is buy with caution and buy from reputable dealer / taxidermist like Barry Williams, who specialises in fish taxidermy and is well versed in the work of John Cooper & Sons.
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28lb Salmon.
John Cooper & Sons also produced cased birds and mammals. Whilst it could be argued that these are rare, they did not specialize in such items and as a consequence the quality is not the same as those companies that produced taxidermy birds and mammals as their primary line of business. No different to James Gardner producing fish and expecting them to be of the same quality is John Cooper. One reason for fish cases standing the test of time is that they suffer less from insect attack as cased birds and mammals do. Wood worm and museum beetle can affect the cases in a similar way to antique furniture. Cases can be restored but it is recommended that you do not destroy the glass in the restoration process as this is the most expensive part of the case to replace and it will detract from it originality especially if the front glass contained writing with gold leaf denoting the specie, date and place of capture.

Comment from the previous owner of the collection of fish outlined below

48 years ago when I resided in the UK I was fortunate to aquire a collection of Barns, William & Cooper & sons fish taxidermy. most are bow fronted with gold leafing on the inside of the glass. All have makers labels and most have the name of the captor. A large proportion were caught by a Mr H. T. Bouffler of London a well known music hall comedian often on the same billing as the great singer Ida Barr. Among his fishing buddies as I remember, were Kelson & Leonard West (This is what I remember the seller, a fishing tackle) dealer on the King Street Hamersmith/Chiswick area, told me) There were originally 17 Pieces. Over the years I had sold the odd one to Fishing Friends, (under pressure) and now have only twelve left. For the last 18 years they have been under raps, so to speak as my wife dislikes the idea of dead things around the house, (as she puts it.)

"PAIR OF ROACH". J. Cooper & sons 1895. Case measures 27" x 141/2" with insciption on glass "Roach, taken by hicks at Amberley. wieght 1lb 8 ozs &1lb 9ozs.

"CHUB" put up by F.T.Williams 1920. Inscribed "Chub F.H.A.S.111.20." measures 27" x 141/2".

"PAIR OF DACE". By J. Cooper & Sons measures 21" x 121/2" has a paper label affixed to the inside right hand top corner, whic reads, "Caught by H.T.Bouffler, Henley, Jan. 25th 1924, wieghts 10ozs 10 drms, 10ozs 3 drms."

"CRUCIAN CARP". By W. Barnes,1911. With paper label, "Crucian Carp, Taken by H.T. Bouffler at Hythe, July 2nd, 1911, wgt. 1lb. 133/4 ozs." Measures 181/2" x 131/2".

With paper label, "Crucian Carp, Taken by H.T. Bouffler at Hythe, July 2nd, 1911, wgt. 1lb. 133/4 ozs." for the above case

"TENCH". J. Cooper & Sons. With paper label,"Tanch, caught by H.T. Bouffler near Wisbeach, July 29th 1917, wieght 3lbs 12ozs. Measures 231/2" x 121/2"

"PAIR OF CHUB". W.Barnes. "Chub Taken by H.T. Bouffler from the Thames, Wieght 3lbs 51/2 ozs & 3lbs 61/2ozs." Inscribed. Measures 361/2" x 161/2"

"PIKE" F.T. Williams. "Pike, 121/2lbs caught at "Slain's" Loch Ellon, Aberdeenshire, by Gus Elen, July 27th, 1910.

"BREAM". W. Barnes, With paper label. "Bream, Taken by H.T. Bouffler on Roach Pole & tight line, March 4th, 1912." Wieght 3lbs 4ozs. Measures 271/2" x 151/2".

"ROACH" F.T.Williams. Inscribed, "Roach taken by C. Pearce at Wraysbury, Jan 20, 1924, wieght 2lbs 21/4ozs" Measure 20" x 121/2"

"RUDD". J. Cooper & Sons. With paper label, "Rudd caught by H.T. Bouffler, River Duse, Bedford, Wieght 1lb. 10ozs. Measures, 181/2" x 111/2"

'RUDD". J. Cooper & Sons. "Caught by F.C. Gerrard in Stour, Feb.6th, 1921, Wgt. 1lb. 111/4ozs. Measures19" x 121/2".

"Bleak". by S.F.Sanders of Islington
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Data label from the above case by S.F. Sanders of Islington
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Trade label from the above case by S.F. Sanders of Islington

"DACE". J. Cooper & Sons. case inscribed "Dace, 121/2ozs

Trout. J. Cooper & Sons.

Brown Trout. J. Cooper & Sons. case inscribed The River Bedfont which those of you may know is now the culverted sewer running underneath Heathrow airport. So much for progress.

These cases have not seen the light of day for 48 years. Aditional images can be found on the fish page within this site.
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European Common Carp by Homer of Forest Gate, London.

Trout by Homer of Forest Gate, London.

Pair of Common Carp by Homer of Forest Gate, London.

Pair of Pike by Homer of Forest Gate, London.

European Pike by Hutchinson of Derby.

European Chub by EF Spicer of Birmingham.

European Common Carp by WF Homer of London.

Flying Fish by Rowland Ward of London.

European Salmon by Peter Spicer & Sons.
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European Pike by WF Homer.

European Perch by Barnes of London.
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European Chub by John Cooper & Sons.
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label by John Cooper & Sons from the above case.
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European Pike by Williams of Dublin.

European Common Carp by Homer of Forest Gate, London.
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Roach by unknown taxidermist.

European Rainbow Trout by Barry Williams of Cannock.
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Carp by Homer
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Tench by Bill Cox of Liverpool

Perch by unknown taxidermist

Trout by Hardy Brothers
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Barbel by Homer
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Grayling by Hutchinson of Derby

Perch by Homer

Pricelist by Homer

Chubb in bowfronted case
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Bream by John Cooper & Sons
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Roach by Shelbourne
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Perch by unknown taxidermist
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Trout by unknown taxidermist

Roach by John Cooper & Sons

Chub by Pratt & Sons of Brighton.

Roach by EF Spicer.

Roach by Barnes.
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Grayling by Cooper & Sons.
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Brown Trout by Cooper & Sons.
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Bream by Cooper & Sons.
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Pike by Peter Spicer & Sons.

Tench by John Cooper & Sons.The fish are my late fathers and I presume he would have had to pay a lot of money to have them mounted in the 1930,s.He was only a labourer on about thirty shillings a week.

Roach by John Cooper & Sons.The fish are my late fathers and I presume he would have had to pay a lot of money to have them mounted in the 1930,s.He was only a labourer on about thirty shillings a week. Thanks for the images Peter.
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Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons.

Modern Brown Trout by AJ Armitstead.
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Pike by John Cooper & Sons.
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Barbel by John Cooper & Sons.
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Perch by John Cooper & Sons.
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Brown Trout by Hardy Brothers.

North American Large Mouth Bass .
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Perch by John Cooper & Sons.
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Pike by John Cooper & Sons.
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Trout by Rowland Ward.
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Tench by unknown taxidermist.
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Perch by Roberts of Norwich.
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Pike with Roach by Mike Gadd.
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Rainbow Trout by Mike Gadd.
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European Pike by Barry Williams of Cannock.

European Rainbow Trout by Barry Williams of Cannock.
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Perch by Mike Gadd.
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Perch by H Potter.
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Tench by unknown taxidermist.
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chub by unknown taxidermist.

Pike by Rowland Ward.
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Tench by unknown taxidermist.
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Roach by James Gardner.
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Pike by Homer of Forest Gate, London.
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Pike by John Cooper & Sons. These fish are 30lb each approximately.
The excellence of John Cooper Fish, perhaps the finest fish taxidermist of his time. Below is a sequence of images of a 1944 Cooper Bream. Thanks Kevin.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Bream, by John Cooper & Sons.

Roach Grouping by Homer.

Chub by Homer
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Victorian Grayling
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Brown Trout by James Hutchings
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Trio of fish by John Cooper & Sons. Tench Roach and Pike, once owned by Andy Henry.
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Chub by John Cooper & Sons
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Pike by John Cooper & Sons
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Perch by Homer
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Roach by John Cooper & Sons
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Tench by John Cooper & Sons
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Trout by John Cooper & Sons
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Salmon by Bill Cox of Liverpool

Tench by Bill Cox of Liverpool
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Trout by Bill Cox of Liverpool
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Perch by Bill Cox of Liverpool
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Roach by unknown taxidermist
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Bream by John Cooper & Sons

Tench by Homer
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Victorian Roach, by unknown taxidermist.

Victorian Roach, by John Cooper & Sons.
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Tench by John Cooper

Bream 4lb in weight by John Cooper & Sons.

Victorian Common Carp, by Anstiss.

Bream 4lb in weight by John Cooper & Sons.

Bream 4lb in weight in close up by John Cooper & Sons.

Tench by Barnes of London
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Pike by George Bazeley of Northampton

Dace by Homer of London ivorinehomer[1].JPG

Label by Homer of Forest Gate.
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Bream by Barnes.
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Label by Barnes for the case above.
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Label by Barnes for the case above.
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Rudd by unknown taxidermist.
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Label for the case above.
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Chub by Homer of London
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Chub by Pape of Newcastle

Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons

Common Carp by Barnes of London

Jack Pike by unknown taxidermist
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Victorian Pike by John Cooper & Sons

Bream 4lb in weight by John Cooper & Sons.

Victorian chub by Homer.

Bream 9lb in weight by John Cooper & Sons.

Brown Trout by unknown taxidermist.
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Perch by Homer.

Victorian label by W.F Homer, fish taxidermist.

Victorian case of a Roach by TE Gunn .

Modern Common Carp by Kim MacDonald.

Modern Common Carp by Kim MacDonald, in close up.

Victorian label by Homer.

Victorian Tench by John Cooper and Sons. Caught in Syon Lake Chiswick, London

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Rudd by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian Perch 4lb in weight, which is not a small fish by modern standards. This fish was preserved by TE Gunn.

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Victorian Barbel by Saunders of London.

Victorian Grayling by John Cooper & Sons of London. John Cooper and Sons are mainly known for their very good quality bow-fronted fish cases. Typically Pike chub, Salmon and Trout were favoured as well as Tench Roach and Rudd The firm was founded by John Cooper, a former watchmaker, in the 1830s and was continued after his death in 1872 by his son John. The business became known as J Cooper and Sons from c1896 when John junior was joined by his sons.

Victorian Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Trout by FE Gunn of Norwich.

Label by FE Gunn of Norwich.

Gudgeon by Albert Hall.

Roach by Homer of London. Many thanks for the image Raymond.

Perch by unknown taxidermist.

andy'sfish3.jpg

Pike By John Cooper & Sons

Label by John Cooper & Sons
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Tench By John Cooper & Sons
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Roach By John Cooper & Sons

Victorian label by John Cooper & Sons, fish taxidermists.

TenchCooper)1.jpg

Victorian Tench by John Cooper & Sons of London.

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Pike by John Cooper and Sons.

Victorian Chub and Pike by Saunders

Victorian Tench by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian Pike with prey by John Cooper and Sons.

Victorian Pike with prey by John Cooper and Sons, once owned by Andy Henry.

Victorian Pike with prey by John Cooper and Sons, once owned by Andy Henry.

Victorian Tench. Many thanks for the image Raymond.

Victorian Perch by Barnes of London.

Taxidermied Roach likely to be by Homer.

Victorian Mirror Carp by Barnes of London.

Victorian Bream by John Cooper & Sons of London.

anstissroach[2].jpg

Victorian Roach, by Anstiss.

Victorian case by John Cooper & Sons of a pair of Chub .

Victorian Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons of London.
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Victorian Roach by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian Roach.

Victorian Perch.

Victorian Roach.

Chub by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian Pike by Allder of Newbury.

Victorian Perch by John Cooper & Sons of London. John Cooper and Sons are mainly known for their very good quality bow-fronted fish cases. Typically Pike chub, Salmon and Trout were favoured as well as Tench Roach and Rudd. The firm was founded by John Cooper, a former watchmaker, in the 1830s and was continued after his death in 1872 by his son John. The business became known as J Cooper and Sons from c1896 when John junior was joined by his sons. Today these cases are highly prized

Roach by John Cooper & Sons of London.

Victorian case of a Pike by John Cooper and Sons .

Victorian case by John Cooper & Sons of a Roach .

Victorian cased Perch by Barnes of London.

Victorian case by John Cooper & Sons of Grayling and Roach .

Victorian Pike.

Victorian Perch in bowfront case, could be by Cooper

Victorian Bream

Victorian Trout.

Outlined below are some websites which we hope you enjoy
www.clearwatertaxidermy.co.uk
www.fishtaxidermy.co.uk
www.warrentaxidermy.bizland.com
www.aa-taxidermy.com
Realistic Taxidermy
www.lakeforktaxidermy.com
www.graytaxidermy.com
www.fishingnet.com
www.taxidermy-uk.net/fish
www.taxidermy.co.uk

Taxidermy4Cash does not undertaken taxidermy, rather we are collectors of other people’s work, both current and historical we also offer web hosting, a search engine submission service and increasingly one of the larger article resource banks on the net. So if your keen to learn about Taxidermy etc, then you know where to look. We are always interested to here about new resource, if you feel a resource should be listed here then please contact us.

ITEMS WANTED. Please respond via this on-line form HERE with a description of what you have for sale.

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