John Cooper & sons
Fish Taxidermists
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.
John Cooper and sons, fish taxidermist (1825-1960).
Over 120 years continuous cased and mounted fish taxidermy production.
This page has been established to compliment both the original John Cooper pages on this site and also the page dedicated to the birds that Copper produced also.
Article by John Andrews 2007
John Cooper was a second generation taxidermist who had been taught the art by his watchmaker turned bird stuffer father also called John Cooper (1825-1916). The precision that watchmaking demanded had turned into perfectionism when it came to preserving fish. The quality of the work was so high that even today over a century later Cooper cased fish look life-like. The taxidermists finish was all important and to obtain a good one a balanced preserving mix was essential. Cooper followed the French apothecary Becoeur’s mixture of no more than five ounces of camphor, no less than two pounds of arsenic, white soap and white chalk. It was a winning combination, the year after the opening of the Natural History Museum in 1881 Cooper was awarded a gold medal at the Edinburgh Fisheries Exhibition and appointed to be a tradesman to the household of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. In 1896 Cooper’s sons Ernest, Frederick and John joined him in the business and the label on the back of the cased fish bore the name Cooper & Sons. John Cooper died in 1916 and was buried at Abney Park Cemetery in Stoke Newington but not before he had taken receipt of the record rod caught carp which had been recently caught at Cheshunt Reservoir.
This company is perhaps the finest exponent of taxidermist 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.
![griggsdelabel [640x480].jpg](griggsdelabel [640x480].jpg)
Data label from the case above.
Demand after the first world war and the depression naturally started to decrease in 1933 and the sons considered closing down the family business. However another taxidermists of the name of W.B.Griggs (trading for a number of years from East London (Manor Park) who took the company over and carried on the business using the same name, J.Cooper & Sons still trading from 28 Radnor street, London.
in 1939 W.B.Griggs moved the taxidermy company to 78 Bath Road,. Hounslow Middlesex. He also taught his son Len Griggs the taxiderny fish trade. In 1953 W.B.Griggs had passed away and his son Len. Griggs carried on the business until for a further 7 years until finally closing the doors in over 120 years of under the name of John Cooper in 1960.
Today nothing is left of old Radnor Street. There is a school, some open parkland / gardens and the street is bounded on both sides by 1960-70's ugly tower blocks.
It is interesting to notes that there were 3 phases of the John Cooper brand. Clearly John Cooper himself, then John Cooper & Sons and then WF Griggs until his son closed the company around 1960. All the practitioners made their mark on the company "brand" and clearly the styles differ greatly. What did not differ however was the attention to detail and the quality of the finished product which was as good as it got.
One word about fakes
When these items attracted more financial return (1999-2001) at auction than they do today, they have been faked extensively. Some fakers are still alive, as we see more and more cases come onto the market. Some are now dead, perhaps now making their work collectible in some perverse manner. Whilst we cannot provide a service to identify these cases, we would however like to draw to your attention that you might wish to get your cases verified as authentic. Despite the depressed prices, no-one likes to feel they have been mugged by a bottom-feader simply in this game to earn money. One interesting development of depressed prices, it does rather render the attemp at faking cases pointless, as the originals are now very cheap to own and therefore no finacial incentive to "pass off" as original.
Rev Edward Constable Alston (1895-1977)
The Reverend Edward Constable Alston was the incumbent at Wrenthan Rectory from 1929 until 1936. He held the British tench and rudd largest fish records in the same year. The Rudd record lasted for many years. Rudd — 4lb 8oz 1933 Rev E C Alston, Mere, nr Thetford, Norfolk. What is interesting about this fish is that it held the British record for 68 years. He also held the record for the largest caught Tench the same year but the weight and location elude us currently.
The Rev Edward Constable Alston died after a short illness in Norwich at the age of 82. He was born in 1895 the second son of the Rector of Scrivelsby in Lincolnshire and, on his mother's side he numbered among his forebears Sir John Franklin, the Arctic explorer. At the age of 18, he sailed in the S. S. Flemenco to South America as an apprentice, and then on a four mastered barque, the Jordan Hill to Australia, and joined the 12th Battalion, 3rd Brigade, ANZAC and took part in the first Gallipoli landing and in the attack on Tasmania Point.
He took Holy Orders in 1923 and among various incumbencies he was vicar of East Wrentham in Norfolk from 1927 to 1936 and thereafter in Ireland. He will be remembered as one of the last Great Sporting Parson's, being a fine shot, and an outstanding fisherman, with immense knowledge of a wide range of fish, in particular salmon and pike. He was until recently, the holder of the record for both tench and rudd at 4.5lb caught at Wrentham, Norfolk, in 1933. He was also a knowledge expert on late 18th and 19th century sporting guns. One of his hobbies was making models of sailing ships. He was twice married and is survived by his widow, Lilias Alston. The Rev E C Alston of Dennington also became the owner Rose Hill estate a 238 acres estate.
We are always very interested in Purchasing Victorian Taxidermy, please respond via this on-line form of what you have for sale. HERE
Rev Edward Constable Alston's fish include the following. We aim also to obatin shortly the British record Rudd, but that image is proving harder to acquire. That fish held the record for some 68 years.
A cased Pike, by Cooper, 24lbs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston in Lough Conn, County Mayo, Ireland, August 1937.
A cased Tench, by W B Griggs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston at Wretham, Norfolk, 8th July 1933, weight 7lbs, Record for British Isles.
A cased Carp, probably by W B Griggs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston in Mickle Mere, Wretham, Norfolk, 6th July 1929.
A cased pair of Pike, by W B Griggs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston in Heigham Sound, Norfolk, 15lbs, spinning, Sept 1927, length 38ins and 19lbs, Wretham, Feb 1928, length 40in.
.jpg)
A Cased Bream, by W B Griggs, 5.1/2lbs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston in West Mere, Wretham, Norfolk, August 1930.
.jpg)
A Cased Bream, by W B Griggs, 5.1/2lbs, caught by the Reverend Mr E C Alston in West Mere, Wretham, Norfolk, August 1930.
We are always very interested in Purchasing Victorian Taxidermy, please respond via this on-line form of what you have for sale. HERE
Another interesting piece of taxidermy history. The family grave of John Cooper (perhaps the finest fish taxidermist of his time)buried in Stoke Newington.
Another interesting piece of taxidermy history. The family grave of John Cooper (perhaps the finest fish taxidermist of his time)buried in Stoke Newington. Someone really needs to write a book on this subject before I produce a "picture book" like the one done for Kendal Museum, to the detriment of Mr Dent. But hey perhaps this website already acheives that. Laugh, yeah right!!!!
If you want your John Cooper / W.F.Homer and Griggs fish cases valued then contact the site.
Even if we don't make an offer on the specimen we will provide a valution pertinent to current market conditions.
A Scale painted Carp by Griggs dated 1948. Nice item and fresh to the market. Now there are two on the market. So what does that do to the other one?.
A Scale painted Carp by Griggs dated 1948. Nice item and fresh to the market.
A Scale painted Carp by Griggs dated 1948. Nice item and fresh to the market.
A Roach in a wrap around case by Cooper dated 1905. Fish prices appear to be dropping as this was sold in the region of £400 recently.
Cooper Dace dated 1905
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905. Hammer price £2150.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
A rare case of Dace by John Cooper dated 1905.
20lb 3oz Common Carp caught by Mr John Andrews on 6th September 1916 from the Cheshunt resevior. This was one of the last fish that Mr Cooper took receipt of before his death that same year. This fish was therefore subsequently set up by his son.
Here is the article where Mr Andrews recounts its capture
I rose at 4am on September 9th, had a cup of tea and went to the swim about 5am. I had hardly settled down before I had the run, I struck, and was fast into a big fish. It was an exciting moment for me, as directly the fish felt the hook go home, he made a terrific dash and tore fifty yards of line off the reel and then turned right for some yards and burried himself in the matted weed. Fortunatley for me he lay there and sulked thinking he was safe. I yelled to another member fishing on the other side of the lake for help, and as the fish kept in the weeds it gave me tme to get the punt, and fight him yard by yard in the weeds, until I got him into open water again, where after some time (quite an hour) I brought himto the landing net. As he lay in the bottom of the punt he was a Carp to be proud of-a perfectly shaped Golden bronze fish- 31 inches length 23 inches girth, and over 6 inches through the shoulders. The carp weighed 20lb 3oz, and is, I believe, the record Carp for English waters. I have not got the biggest fish I have seen at Cheshunt by a long way, and next year will try again, and see if I can't capture one quite 25lb, if not more.
Here also the John Cooper trade label post 1916 denoting the holding and mounting of the record fish. This add is from "Anglers News" October 7th 1916. You know someone really needs to write a book on the subject of John Cooper. That said we are doing a fine job of promoting this taxidermist so to speak.
27lbs 5ozs fully scaled mirror carp 1954, mounted by Griggs trading as John Cooper and sons
The 27lbs 5ozs fully scaled mirror carp (also known as King carp) was caught by Jack Opie from Redmire Pool in September 1954 and is believed to be the largest carp to have ever been mounted by the world famous London taxidermists. At the time this was the largest fully scaled mirror carp to have been caught in the British Isles
30lb Pike mounted by L.F.Griggs. The gold coloured legend reads: Pike 30lbs caught by D. Tate on Hickling Broad Norfolk on live bait 14th October 1956. This important case is believed to be the last 30lb Pike preserved by J. Cooper & Sons before they closed in the early 1960?s. Initially the captor was turned away, despite having his 22lb Pike mounted by Cooper?s only three years previously, because the business was struggling to keep up with their work. However after enquiring about the weight of the Pike and learning it was of the magical 30lbs, Mr. L. F. Griggs agreed to mount it. It took fifteen months for the fish to be completed and was collected on January 8th 1958. The taxidermist was unable to offer the gilt lettering service to the vendor, the skilled gentleman having past away, so the angler had it added by a friend. The case sold at Bonhams for £5,600.
Pair of Dace by John Cooper & Sons dated 1924
Pair of Dace by John Cooper & Sons dated 1924
.JPG)
Pair of Dace by John Cooper & Sons dated 1924
.JPG)
Pair of Dace by John Cooper & Sons dated 1924
.JPG)
Pair of Dace by John Cooper & Sons dated 1924
We are always very interested in Purchasing Victorian Taxidermy, please respond via this on-line form of what you have for sale. HERE
Bronze Bream, 9lbs 8oz dated 1959. Superb and not for sale.Mounted by Griggs
Bronze Bream, 9lbs dated 1957. Superb fish. We were offered two 9lb bream in less than one month, similar sizes and clearly by the same taxidermist.
Bronze Bream, 9lbs dated 1957. Superb fish. We were offered two 9lb bream in less than one month, similar sizes and clearly by the same taxidermist. Mr Fullerton caught and owned the fish until his death. He lived in East London and therefore most likely knew Griggs.
Arctic Char by John Cooper, one of only 2 cases known by this maker.
Trio of Roach case by John Cooper.
Stunning Pike 11lbs in weight dated 1925 by John Cooper & Sons.
Roach case by John Cooper.
Trout case by John Cooper.
Roach case by John Cooper.
Thames Tench by John Cooper, when WF Griggs ran the company and created a style all of his own.
Crucian Carp by John Cooper dated 1929.
Crucian Carp by John Cooper dated 1929.
Late Grayling by John Cooper dated 1929.
We are always very interested in Purchasing Victorian Taxidermy, please respond via this on-line form of what you have for sale. HERE
Pike by WF Homer. Whilst not by John Cooper it is a good example of two different makers using clearly different styles in their approach. Homer an almost unreadable text and colours which no way resemble a fish in life and Cooper frankly the complete opposite. Perhaps the only interesting fact about this fish is that Mr Maynard produced wine gums. Compared with the work of Cooper and or Griggs this is rather ugly.
Tench by John Cooper dated 1947.
Single Roach by John Cooper, dated 1921.
Trio of Perch by John Cooper.
Brown Trout by John Cooper.
Sea Bass by Griggs.
Perch in wrap around case weighing 3lbs, caught in Hoddeston, Herts, dated February 1870. Mounted by John Cooper himself
Perch in wrap around case weighing 3lbs, caught in Hoddeston, Herts. Mounted by John Cooper himself
Pair of Chub by John Cooper.
Crucian Carp by John Cooper.
River Carp by Griggs trading under the name of John Cooper.
Pike chasing Trout by John Cooper.
![pikefish1 [640x480].jpg](pikefish1 [640x480].jpg)
River Pike by John Cooper.
Stunning Tench by Griggs trading as John Cooper.
Stunning Common Carp in a wrap around case by John Cooper, dated 1898.
Trio of Trout by John Cooper.
Pike by John Cooper.
Loch Trout by Griggs.
Double Perch case by John Cooper.
Stunning Roach case by John Cooper.
Fine pair of Tench by W.B.Griggs of Manor Park, London. These fish were preserved in 1914, see label below. This case is completely original, untouched and not for sale. It would benefit from a clean and re-taping though.
Data label from the case above. What is fascinating is that Loudham Decoy is on the river Stour near Ipswich. So in 1914 someone had the ability and time to bring those fish back to London by steam train to have them mounted.
Data label from the case above.
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.
[HOMEPAGE]
Taxidermy Links.
Please double click on the Taxidermy link icon below.
Taxidermy
Links
|
|