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Taxidermy and the effort involved in creating a case.
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 Bird Taxidermists in the UK and America. This taxidermist produces modern creations utlising many of the design features and case building techniques created by the Victorian Taxidermists. This taxidermy art form has changed little over the years. Preservation techniques in terms of the use of chemicals has changed and groundwork has become more realistic. Apart from that the taxidermy techniques used 150 years ago are still relevant today.
We have always been interested in creating dioramas, with nest eggs and chicks and to also closely match the birds that associate together and also near as possible the habitat in which they would be likely to be found.
The case that is outlined below demonstrates the stages involved the choice of landscape, colours, materials and of course the choice of mounts. The ducks indicated here are North Atlantic Scoters, North American but also a common to the UK.
The taxidermy has been undertaken, with birds that have been legally obtained. The styrafoam rockwork to 15-20 coats of paint to create both texture and depth. The resin required 6-10 applications for the same reason, allowing each application to dry prior to the next coat. Each stone is hand painted and then varnished to create a wet look. The birds, well taxidermists will know what they take to create, then of course there is the cabinet work and galzing. Clearly some people spend more time on cases and mounts than others.
North Atlantic Surf and Black Scoters
The concept
North Atlantic Surf and White winged Scoters. First we started with the concept of the birds in water adjacent to a wooden wharf like structure with fish netting. These cases are finished in a TE Gunn style, meaning a plain box, flat fronted case with pale blue backgrounds. It was suggested that one bird was on the water and the other flying but case size contraints made for both birds floating.
We decided that we would place both birds in the water adjacent to a wooden wharf to give both focus and scale to the diorama. The iomagry pictured here are birds in flight and resting on water. These are just reference images for the pending taxidermy.
Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata)
The adult male Surf Scoter with its black plumage and white patches on the nape and forehead is distinctive. Female plumages of the Surf Scoter are similar to female plumages of the other scoters. It can be told from the Black Scoter by it more sloping forehead, and white face patches. The White-winged Scoter has white wing patches, a face that doesn't contrast with the crown, and a smaller bill.
Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
Scoters are gregarious, and the three species often feed together, gathering over submerged reefs where mollusks, barnacles, chitons, and limpets abound. Newly hatched young remain on fresh water for several days, feeding on small freshwater mussels and the larvae of aquatic insects before moving to salt water. The Black Scoter is the least common of the three in North America, numbering about 500,000; it is more numerous and deserving of its former name, "Common Scoter," in parts of Eurasia. The Black Scoter is divided into two subspecies. In the form found in Europe, the "Common Scoter," the male has a larger swollen knob at the base of the upper bill that is black on the sides with a yellow stripe on top, not entirely yellow.
The Black Scoter occasionally does a "Wing-flap" display while swimming, flapping its wings with its body held up out of the water. Unlike other scoters, it almost always punctuates a Wing-flap with a characteristic downward thrust of head, as if its neck were momentarily broken. Surf and White-winged scoters keep their heads and bills pointing more or less above the horizontal throughout a Wing-flap. The Black Scoter is among the most vocal of waterfowl. Groups of Black Scoters often can be located by the constant mellow, plaintive whistling sound of the males.
![DStwosurf [640x480].jpg](DStwosurf [640x480].jpg)
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases. All to do know is to complete the birds, allow them to dry and place in the case. Then add several layers of clear resin to the top of the plexi-glass and the case will be ready for glazing. Sinmple really, well for some of us anyway. The dimensions of this case is 30x27x18.
![DStwosurf3 [640x480].JPG](DStwosurf3 [640x480].JPG)
Close up of the above image.
![DStwosurf2 [640x480].jpg](DStwosurf2 [640x480].jpg)
Close up of the above image.
![DStwosurf1 [640x480].jpg](DStwosurf1 [640x480].jpg)
Close up of the above image.
Close up of the above image.
![DSC_5579[1] [640x480].JPG](DSC_5579[1] [640x480].JPG)
Close up of the above image. The bird is spiked and pinned waiting to dry.
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases. All to do know is to complete the birds, allow them to dry and place in the case. Then add several layers of clear resin to the top of the plexi-glass and the case will be ready for glazing. Sinmple really, well for some of us anyway. The dimensions of this case is 30x27x18.
Close up of the above image.
Close up of the above image.
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases. The wood and expanded foam have been placed into the case to demonstrate the general efect required.
Detail of the above case. The groundwork has to be painted and a water effect added to the scene. You can see from the image that the plexi-glass is in place but currently covered with a protective layer. This will be removed to fascilitate the inclusion of additional resin to create the water effect. Both birds will be swimming.
Detail of the above case. The groundwork has to be painted and a water effect added to the scene. You can see from the image that the plexi-glass is in place but currently covered with a protective layer. This will be removed to fascilitate the inclusion of additional resin to create the water effect. Both birds will be swimming.
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases
North Atlantic Scoters. First we started with the groundwork and here is the start of the wooden wharf scene.These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases
North Atlantic Surf Scoter ducks. First we started with the above image and decided that the placement of the bird looked authentic. That said it may change and perhaps over the course of the case development it will change. These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases to make them affordable by most. The case of Harlequin ducks have already been created, as have the Ring Necked Ducks also. North Atlantic Eiders will be next.
North Atlantic Surf Scoter ducks. First we started with the above image and decided that the placement of the bird looked authentic. That said it may change and perhaps over the course of the case development it will change. These cases are not thrown together like some do. Oh and never for sale. Too many hours go into the cases to make them affordable by most. The case of Harlequin ducks have already been created, as have the Ring Necked Ducks also. North Atlantic Eiders will be next.
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