Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by Victorian taxidermy after my brother was given several pieces by various people due to his love of birds.
I know many people find this art form to be grotesque, and I loathe cruelty to animals but I always saw it as a way of honoring and remembering a creature that had died. [It should be noted that the old established taxidermists used animals that had died of natural causes or in the wild].
I must admit, I’m not a fan of modern day taxidermy as for me; it lacks the respect and beauty of these pieces from the past. The Victorians would not only immortalize pets in this way but were often seen photographed with dead relatives, not as a macabre gesture but as a means of having a physical memory of a loved one. Death and dying were not seen in the same way as they are in our society today.
So on to the piece of artwork. One of the most renowned Victorian taxidermists was Walter Potter and his creation Mr. Potter’s Museum of Curiosities.
Established more than 100 years ago, this unique Victorian museum was based on the collection of taxidermy formed by Walter Potter (1835-1918) while living in Bramber, Sussex.
Potter is best known for his arrangement of animals in anthropomorphic scenes. One of his most famous pieces was ‘The Death and Burial of Cock Robin’.
Finished in 1861, the intricate tableau took seven years to complete and contains 98 specimens of British birds. Potter’s inspiration for the display came after seeing the story of Cock Robin illustrated in a nursery rhyme book belonging to his sister, Jane.
