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