Taxidermy by John Cooper & Sons. Perhaps regarded as the very best British Historical Fish Taxidermist.

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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.

Golden Orfe by John Cooper & Sons when Griggs ran the company. Not really our taste but then having never seen another one by Cooper, it had to be purchased.
Golden Orfe by John Cooper & Sons when Griggs ran the company. Not really our taste but then having never seen another one by Cooper, it had to be purchased. Might soon be available to a the more serious fish collectors. Enjoy anyway. The fish is 4 and one quarter pounds as the data label clearly states.
8 Roach by John Cooper.

Stunning pair of Jack Pike by John Cooper.

For those with a piscatorial bent, here are a trio of Pike by John Cooper. Apologies to those who enquired but we found out today that the case sold for £1500. We have subsequently discovered that the case then sold for £3000. Now is that value or cost????????, umm let me think.

Nice attractive Cooper Chub in a bow fronted case.
Cooper Mirror Carp in a bow fronted case.
Cooper Common Carp in a bow fronted case.
For those with a piscatorial bent, here is a Pomeranian Bream by John Cooper.

For those with a piscatorial bent, here is the data from John Cooper saying so for the above case. Cannot read it, shame, as we can on the larger version.

Otter with Brown Trout prey by John Cooper & Sons.
Wonderful late case of a Pike by John Cooper & Sons when Griggs owned the company.
Nice attractive Cooper Pike in a bow fronted case.
Nice attractive Cooper Pike in a bow fronted case.
Nice attractive Cooper Brown Trout in pillarless bow fronted case.
Nice attractive Cooper Pike in a flat fronted case.
Roach and Perch by John Cooper & Sons. Interesting composition and very typical / common of Cooper cases

Brown Trout from The New River, Broxbourne 1912, by John Cooper & Sons

The New River is something of a misnomer since it is neither a river nor new. It is an aqueduct built under the direction of Sir Hugh Myddleton between 1607 and 1612 to bring fresh drinking water from Chadwell and Amwell Springs near Ware about 40 miles down the Lee Valley to London. It is very doutbful that this fishery can provide specimens of this quality today. The social history on fish cases (written in gold leaf) tells of rivers lost entirely and perhaps more importantly for those that remain, polluted. Apparently this is progress. The specimens below would have been wild brown trout from a fishery that was no doubt managed at this time but not artificially stocked.

Brown Trout by John Cooper dated 1912 complete with data and flies / tracers. Fully documented fish in gold lettering, even down to the river conditions at the time of capture. Classic piece of victorian historical taxidermy. For those Cooper collectors out there, another stunning case from a private collection, donated with the view that this case goes to geniune collectors of taxidermy.'Brace of BROWN TROUT Killed by N.G. CHALMERS-HUNT, on Silver sedge (floating) in New River (opposite), Chadwell. Aug. 12th 1912. Wgt's 3lb's & 3 1/2 lb's..
Brown Trout by John Cooper dated 1912 complete with data and flies / tracers. Fully documented fish in gold lettering, even down to the river conditions at the time of capture. Classic piece of victorian historical taxidermy. For those Cooper collectors out there, another stunning case from a private collection, donated with the view that this case goes to geniune collectors of taxidermy. These fish were held privately for over 20 years. The fish are 3lbs and 3.5lbs respectivelty. The image does not convey the quality of the painting and the detail on each fish. Not for sale .
Brown Trout by John Cooper dated 1912 . Fully documented fish in gold lettering, even down to the river conditions at the time of capture. Classic piece of victorian historical taxidermy. Close up of the top fish as to admire the quality of the workmanship. This fish was mounted in 1912. We are always seeking to acquire cases of this quality from collectors or those who have inherited them and no longer want them.
Brown Trout by John Cooper dated 1912 . Fully documented fish in gold lettering, even down to the river conditions at the time of capture. Classic piece of victorian historical taxidermy. Close up of the bottom fish as to admire the quality of the workmanship. This fish was mounted in 1912. We are always seeking to acquire cases of this quality from collectors or those who have inherited them and no longer want them.
Single Golden Tench by John Cooper.
Single Golden Tench by John Cooper.
Single Golden Tench by John Cooper.
Single Golden Tench by John Cooper.
Good example of a single John Cooper Brown Trout.
Pair of John Cooper Rudd in bow fronted case. Fresh to the market and not for sale. Our preference (Barble, Chub, Trout Tench by example) is to purchase pairs of fish as the interaction within the case provides for a more life like appeal. More than happy to continue to purchase cases like these and the Brown Trout recently acquired.
Pair of John Cooper Rudd in bow fronted case.
Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons.
Golden Tench (Tinca tinca) by John Cooper. More detailed images to follow on this case when we photograph the magical brown trout as well. See small image above of this donated case.
Golden Tench (Tinca tinca) by John Cooper.
Golden Tench (Tinca tinca) by John Cooper.
Common Carp by John Cooper.
Pair of Rudd by John Cooper.

These cases were commissioned by the same angler S.R.Bolch (1904-1974) and remained in the family (1927-1957) until a dispersement to us (20/2/2010). Medals certificates and invoices from this man's fishing career also come with this collection and provide a fascinating insight into another "time". Not for sale by the way.

A little piece of social history. Lifetime membership of the London Anglers Association and in particular , given teh war years, he was a member of "The Paddington Civil Defence Angling Society". The Angler in question is Samuel Richard Bolch.

A little piece of social history. Lifetime membership of the London Anglers Association and in particular , given teh war years, he was a member of "The Paddington Civil Defence Angling Society".The Angler in question is Samuel Richard Bolch.

Barbel, a stunning pair by John Cooper and Sons dated 1928. This is the 6000th image for the site and it is fitting given that this is a quality case, for a serious collector. The inscription reads Barbel 5lbs & 4lbs 9ozs, 10drms Caught by S Bolch Cookham August 28th 1927.

Mirror Carp. "King Carp" 3lbs 15ozs Caught by S Bolch Cookham July 8th 1928

European Jay by John Cooper & sons in a flat fronted case.

Fox by John Cooper & sons in a bow fronted case.
Brown Trout by John Cooper dated 1912 complete with data and flies / tracers. Classic piece of victorian historical taxidermy. For those Copper collectors out there, another stunning case from a private collection. The fish are 3lbs and 3.5lbs respectivelty. We will purchase anything of quality, no exceptions. This is a serious case for a serious, genuine collector. More detailed images to follow shortly. We hope you enjoy them.

Bream by John Cooper.

Mirror Carp. "King Carp" 3lbs 15ozs Caught by S Bolch Cookham July 8th 1928

Barbel
A Pike in a bow fronted case.
A Brown Trout in a bow fronted case dated 1934.
Barbel by John Cooper & Sons.
Barbel by John Cooper & Sons.
Barbel by John Cooper & Sons.
Cooper was not alone in his status as a high class stuffer. Most famous of all his rivals was Rowland Ward, a man who trusted arsenic more than he trusted electricity and whose firm’s flagship were the showrooms at 167 Piccadilly known to all as ‘The Jungle’. But although Ward was an angler himself, his speciality was the preservation of big game and despite his fondness for tarpon, many fish bearing the Rowland Ward label at one time would have been preserved by the taxidermy department of the Army and Navy Stores on Victoria Street. (In the later years of its existence Ward’s employed Eric Hare and Roy Hale to preserve their fish. Hale went on to work at the British Museum and Hare set up his own shop in Golders Green).

A Mirror Carp by John Cooper & Sons. The inscription reads "King Carp" 3lbs 15ozs Caught by S Bolch Cookham July 8th 1928
A Mirror Carp by John Cooper & Sons.
Other more successful rivals to Coopers were local taxidermists who had developed a distinctive style such as Sanders of Essex Road, Barnes of Islington and Homers of East London. With Hardy Brothers of Pall Mall and Gerrards of Camden Town also offering a fish mounting service the bigger names began to swallow up a lot of the trade of the smaller stuffers. Combined with a wane in the fashion for taxidermy by 1930 there were only eleven recorded taxidermists operating in London.

A Tench by John Cooper & Sons.
A Chub by John Cooper & Sons.
A Chub by John Cooper & Sons.
In the second half of the 20th century taxidermy was viewed as an anachronism, a relic of Victorian England, a concept destroyed by two world wars and desire for a new world. This loss of importance is no better typified by the retreat of Rowland Ward from its fashionable address in Piccadilly to the surburban anonymity of its latter works in Wood Green. Cooper & Sons also moved from the city to Hounslow in Middlesex. One of the largest collections of cased fish, held at the Welsh Harp Inn in Kingsbury was broken up when the pub was demolished to make way for Staples Corner in 1971.

Just for comparison this is a classic Griggs case. Berties Griggs purchased the rights to John Coopers & Sons and ran the company until it closed. He had a great influence on the style of the cases that were produced during this period. This case is not for sale. This case was also produced before Griggs purchased Coopers and was working under his own name

Wooden Carved Fish by W.Griggs

Very little is known about this medium associated with Griggs. Unlike those produced by Malloch of Perth and Peter Spicer these are of lesser quality. However they are rare items in their own right and demonstrate the breadth of work this person carried out in small premises in East London. Carved Brown Trout by W Griggs.
Carved Rainbow Trout by W Griggs.
A Pike in a flat fronted case. This specimen is dated 1946 when Bertie Griggs owned and managed the company.
A monster 25lb Pike in a 4ft bow fronted case. Many thanks for the image Chris.
A Roach in a bow fronted case, created during the period that Griggs owned the company.
A Roach in a bow fronted case dated 1891.
A Roach in a wrap around bow fronted case.
A Common Carp.
A Pike by John Cooper & Sons.
A Tench by John Cooper & Sons.
A Perch by John Cooper & Sons.
A Roach by John Cooper & Sons.
A damaged Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons. This is an easy restoration undertaking and does not detract from the finished item.
A damaged Brown Trout by John Cooper & Sons. This is an easy restoration undertaking and does not detract from the finished item.
A Pike by John Cooper & Sons.
A pair of Roach by John Cooper & Sons.
A Trout by John Cooper & Sons.
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