| Collectors very frequently acquire specialized | | | | should be applauded for both their disposable |
| knowledge about their collections. To understand | | | | capital and foreseight of investment. |
| how this works, one would have to be a collector | | | | I am personally yet to be convinced that you |
| or to understand the collector mentality. Most | | | | could use a taxidermy collection as a retirement |
| collectors do not collect just to possess the items | | | | fund, partly due the to cyclical nature of antiques |
| in their collections, but because the items | | | | and the antiques market. We firmly believe |
| fascinate them and they want to learn as much | | | | however that in recent times taxidermy as an |
| about them as they can. This is demonstrated by | | | | acceptible object to collect has come back into |
| those who have written books on this subject. | | | | fashion, following a 30 year absence from the |
| Taxidermy Collectors and Collections | | | | visible market place. Will it now return to another |
| We are in contact with many serious collectors | | | | 30 years absence only remains to be seen. |
| globally sharing both knowledge and experiences | | | | Perhaps the best / the greatest value in antiques |
| of taxidermy colecting and regulations that govern | | | | is not money, but pleasure they bring to those |
| this trade, I was on the path of becoming a | | | | who own them. Most Taxidermy cases, even |
| serious collector myself (funds being the most | | | | Hutchings Foxes and Badgers, that were |
| obvious limiting factor), but then spent time with | | | | produced on an industrial scale, are unique in their |
| dealers and saw the other side of the coin :) | | | | own way. I have never seen cases that are |
| Seeing others get "collector fever" cured me | | | | identical, very similar yes, but never identical. |
| completely. This is not a crtisim, more just an | | | | Perhaps the best way to "value" an item is what |
| observation. I understand the "mentality". (And I | | | | would it cost you today from a dealer to replace |
| haven't lost the urge - except that now I collect | | | | the item that has been damaged / stolen or |
| in a more modest specialist fashion). The research | | | | beyond practical restoration |
| I have done however into taxidermy's availability | | | | Given the nature and scale of man's obsession |
| and worth is both extensive and detailed and is of | | | | with collecting both Victorian and modern |
| course ongoing. | | | | taxidermy, we have had to dedicate an additional |
| Collecting is about possession and ownership. With | | | | page to add some more cases for your perusal. |
| "investment collectors" it's the possession and | | | | Once again we hope that you enjoy them. The |
| ownership of valuables that have the potential to | | | | web page below has a written narative explaining |
| increase with time. With "passionate collectors" the | | | | collecting and also contained within this page are |
| motivations are very varied and complex, but at | | | | some additional taxidermy pictures of cases within |
| the end it boils down again to possession and | | | | one collection. Again it represent around 100 |
| ownership. The test is simple. Someone who has | | | | cases, which when combined with the web page |
| the means to be a collector but is primarily after | | | | below illustrates only 30% of the total cases |
| knowledge will support the acquisition activities of | | | | within this collection |
| museums, because that's the rational choice for | | | | The following pictures still only relate to one |
| increasing knowledge. A collector will buy the | | | | collection, The Four Elms Collection. Arguably this is |
| object for his own private collection (even if he | | | | one of the largest and most comprehensive |
| then lends it for public display). And there's nothing | | | | taxidermy collections in private hands in England. |
| wrong with collecting. It is both a very natural | | | | Many of the Victorian and Modern Taxidermists |
| instinct and something that is accepted, and | | | | of merit are represented here |
| approved, by social norms and regulated by laws. | | | | The aim of this webpage is to provide an insight |
| Serious collectors support both dealers and | | | | into one collection. It demonstrates both the |
| taxidermists alike. Most taxidermists activity is a | | | | nature and extent of Victorian Taxidermy and the |
| rural based activity, and with the ban on fox | | | | variety of what is currently available at a price. |
| hunting, the rural community needs all the support | | | | This collection (limited part thereof) also |
| it can get. With the small band of both dedicated | | | | represents perhaps one of the largest private |
| and wealthy collectors here in the UK, the price of | | | | collections in the UK today and is representative |
| Victorian Taxidermy would be significantly lower | | | | of a significant number of both modern and |
| than the prices it commands today. "The Market" | | | | Victorian taxidermists. |
| however will always determine the price of | | | | Antique taxidermy cases by example from the |
| everything, and forms perhaps the basic law of | | | | "Four Elms Collection". These pictures represent |
| economics. Serious taxidermy collectors have | | | | approximately one sixth of the total collection |
| done much to preserve good quality taxidermy | | | | (over 650 cases), this does not include masks and |
| for future generations and to that end they | | | | shields. We hope you enjoy them. |