Taxidermy is the art of mounting or reproducing animals for display or study and in the past the word has been associated with large gloomy Victorian houses filled with stuffed animals.

However in recent years, taxidermy has emerged from the shadows as a collecting area in its own right and in the United Kingdom there are now dealers who deal only in taxidermy. In Victorian times, taxidermists performed a valuable service, bringing wildlife into homes and allowing the inhabitants to see real birds and mammals at close quarters. They could also create trophies to provide mementoes of a good day's fishing or hunting.

The value of taxidermy specimens is enhanced by the presence of an original label detailing when and where the specimen was obtained and by a trade label of the taxidermist, the most sought after being Rowland Ward of London.

In assessing a taxidermied specimen, the potential more...

50 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Taxidermy bear rug, North American cinnamon black bear on felt…

Taxidermy bear rug, North American cinnamon black bear on felt backing 1.9m

An exceptionally fine polar bear skin rug with full mount head,…

Full Mount Polar Bear Skin Rug with Head and Claws

An exceptionally fine polar bear skin rug with full mount head, complete with claws and full head, with black felt backing and black felt border, fitted with hooks for suspension. Length 243 cm, width 222 cm

A Canadian bear skin rug, with head and claws, backed onto a…

Canadian Bear Skin Rug with Head and Claws

A Canadian bear skin rug, with head and claws, backed onto a felt lining. 160 x 140 cm.

A vintage polar bear rug, good healthy plush coat, with head in…

Vintage Polar Bear Rug by Ward of London

A vintage polar bear rug, good healthy plush coat, with head in open snarling position and claws to feet, linen and felt backed, by Ward of London, width 228 cm, length 262 cm.

An antique bear skin rug with blue felt backing, 19th century,…

19th Century Blue-Backed Antique Bear Skin Rug

An antique bear skin rug with blue felt backing, 19th century, 165 x 135 cm

A collection of six ivory netsukes, dragon, seated dog, cat,…

Ivory Netsuke Collection: Dragon, Dog, Cat, Bear, Rabbit, Turtle

A collection of six ivory netsukes, dragon, seated dog, cat, bear, rabbit and turtle.

A taxidermy Asian brown bear head, shoulder mount with open…

Asian Brown Bear Shoulder Mount with Open Mouth

A taxidermy Asian brown bear head, shoulder mount with open mouth showing teeth and light coloured snout, mounted on shield plaque. 40 x 54 cm.

Upper Bear skull

Bear Skull Upper Anatomy

Upper Bear skull

Taxidermy Alaskan 8ft full body Grizzly Bear on naturalistic…

8ft Alaskan Grizzly Bear Taxidermy on Naturalistic Base

Taxidermy Alaskan 8ft full body Grizzly Bear on naturalistic base

Taxidermy Alaskan 8ft full body rare Cinnamon Brown Bear on…

Cinnamon Brown Bear Taxidermy on Naturalistic Base

Taxidermy Alaskan 8ft full body rare Cinnamon Brown Bear on naturalistic base

Record 42 cm Brown Bear skull

42cm Brown Bear Skull Record

Record 42 cm Brown Bear skull

Record 42 cm Grizzly Bear skull

42cm Grizzly Skull Record

Record 42 cm Grizzly Bear skull

An American black bear skin with head, bearing an old label…

Black Bear Skin with Head and Claws

An American black bear skin with head, bearing an old label under the chin: 'Joe's taxidermy, Winnipeg, Manitobu', the paws with claws.

A taxidermy Asian brown bear, head and torso mount, raised paws,…

Asian Brown Bear Taxidermy Mount

A taxidermy Asian brown bear, head and torso mount, raised paws, open mouth and glass eyes. On shield mount. Height 74 cm

An ancient Cave bear skull (Ursus spelaeus) Pleistocene -…

Ancient Cave Bear Skull with Custom Stand

An ancient Cave bear skull (Ursus spelaeus) Pleistocene - recent Location: Europe (extinct species) with customised stand skull length 35 cm

A taxidermy Asian brown bear head, shoulder mount with open…

Aggressive Asian Brown Bear Shoulder Mount

A taxidermy Asian brown bear head, shoulder mount with open mouth showing teeth, light coloured snout and mounted on a shield plaque.

A brown bear skin rug with taxidermy head on black felt backing,…

Mid-century Brown Bear Rug with Taxidermy Head

A brown bear skin rug with taxidermy head on black felt backing, mid 20th century, 170 cm long, 155 cm wide

Vintage grizzly bear skin rug with head mounted and winter fur,…

Vintage Grizzly Bear Rug with Head and Winter Fur

Vintage grizzly bear skin rug with head mounted and winter fur, 2m

A brown bear skin rug, with full head and claws, in good…

Brown Bear Skin Rug with Head and Claws

A brown bear skin rug, with full head and claws, in good condition. 160 x 145 cm

A rare and impressive grizzly bear rug, the full mounted head…

Impressive Grizzly Bear Rug with Open Mouth

A rare and impressive grizzly bear rug, the full mounted head with open mouth, one claw absent, the winter coat displaying pale tones to the outer and dark brown inner, laid on a fabric backing with green baize crinkle-cut border. Length approx. 220 cm,…

A silver mounted polar bear skull with gaping jaws and three…

Silver Mounted Polar Bear Skull with Removable Beakers

A silver mounted polar bear skull with gaping jaws and three removable silver beakers, 25 cm high, 31 cm long, The skull was part of the Archive of Gordon Burt, OBE (Christie's Australia, 28 November 1996, Lot 472). Gordon Burt was the Engineer on the…

A polar bear skin rug with taxidermy head on felt backing,…

Early 20th Century Polar Bear Skin Rug with Taxidermy Head

A polar bear skin rug with taxidermy head on felt backing, early 20th century. 260 cm long, 200 cm wide.

A silver mounted polar bear skull with gaping jaws and three…

Silver Polar Bear Skull with Removable Beakers

A silver mounted polar bear skull with gaping jaws and three removable silver beakers. 25 cm high, 31 cm long. The skull was part of the Archive of Gordon Burt, OBE (Christie's Australia, 28 November 1996, Lot 472). Gordon Burt was the Engineer on the…

A polar bear skin rug, with fully taxidermied head, 220 cm long,…

Polar Bear Skin Rug with Head - 220cm

A polar bear skin rug, with fully taxidermied head, 220 cm long, Nb: This Item requires a CITES certificate for export. This lot cannot be shipped to the USA or Territories

A Black Bear skin rug with taxidermy head on a felt backing,…

Early 20th Century Black Bear Skin Rug with Taxidermy Head

A Black Bear skin rug with taxidermy head on a felt backing, early 20th century. 140 x 153 cm

A magnificient polar bear skin floor rug in immaculate…

Immaculate 205cm Polar Bear Rug with CITES Certification

A magnificient polar bear skin floor rug in immaculate condition with CITES certification 205 cm in length

North American black bear skull specimen

North American Black Bear Skull

North American black bear skull specimen

Grizzly bear skull specimen, 36 cm

Grizzly Bear Skull: 36 cm Specimen

Grizzly bear skull specimen, 36 cm

Polar bear skull specimen

Polar Bear Skull: A Fascinating Specimen

Polar bear skull specimen

Antique Canadian 2 metre bear skin rug, claws intact, head…

Canadian Bear Skin Rug with Claws and Mounted Head

Antique Canadian 2 metre bear skin rug, claws intact, head mounted on velvet felt padding

An Asian bear skin

Asian Bear Pelt

An Asian bear skin

Antique black bear, head mounted rug on red felt, 1.8 metres…

Antique Black Bear Head Rug on Red Felt - 1.8m Long

Antique black bear, head mounted rug on red felt, 1.8 metres long

Antique baby black bear head, mounted on blue felt, 1.65 metres…

Antique Baby Black Bear Head on Blue Felt Mount

Antique baby black bear head, mounted on blue felt, 1.65 metres long

Antique grizzly bear skin rug, head mounted on cream felt, 2.1…

Antique Grizzly Bear Skin Rug with Mounted Head

Antique grizzly bear skin rug, head mounted on cream felt, 2.1 metres long

Huge bear skin rug mounted on red felt padding, head mounted…

Massive 2.5m Bear Skin Rug on Red Felt Padding

Huge bear skin rug mounted on red felt padding, head mounted length 2.5 metres

Antique brown bear, shoulder mount

Antique Brown Bear Shoulder Mount

Antique brown bear, shoulder mount

Canadian grizzly bear full standing mount on naturalistic…

Life-sized Grizzly Bear Mount with Real Claws and Scenery

Canadian grizzly bear full standing mount on naturalistic scenery, real claws, 2.2 metres tall

Russian kamchatka bear full body mount in attacking standing…

Kamchatka Bear Attack on Oak Cabinet Mount

Russian kamchatka bear full body mount in attacking standing pose mounted on solid American oak cabinet in naturalistic scene, 9 ft tall

Alaskan black bear skull specimen, 31 cm long

Alaskan Black Bear Skull - 31cm Specimen

Alaskan black bear skull specimen, 31 cm long

Rare Canadian black bear skull specimen, 30 cm long

Rare Canadian Black Bear Skull - 30cm Long

Rare Canadian black bear skull specimen, 30 cm long

Rare grizzly bear skull specimen, 40 cm long

Rare 40cm Grizzly Bear Skull

Rare grizzly bear skull specimen, 40 cm long

Antique North American black bear, full mount standing on…

Standing Black Bear on Snow Scene

Antique North American black bear, full mount standing on natural snow scene

A taxidermied polar bear skin rug with head, teeth and claws,…

Damaged Polar Bear Rug with Head and Claws

A taxidermied polar bear skin rug with head, teeth and claws, wear and repairs in places, missing three claws and one claw missing the tip, 217 cm long

Taxidermied polar bear skin rug with full head mount, some…

Worn Polar Bear Skin Rug with Head Mount

Taxidermied polar bear skin rug with full head mount, some claws missing, wear to pelt, 200 cm length approximately

Rare alaskan grizzly bear skull with tag/permit attached,…

Alaskan Grizzly Bear Skull with Permit - 40cm

Rare alaskan grizzly bear skull with tag/permit attached, length 40 cm

North American black bear skin rug mounted on double felt…

Black Bear Skin Rug on Double Felt Padding

North American black bear skin rug mounted on double felt padding

North American black bear skull specimen

North American Black Bear Skull

North American black bear skull specimen

North American black bear skin rug with mounted head and clawed…

Black Bear Skin Rug with Mounted Head and Claws

North American black bear skin rug with mounted head and clawed feet on velvet felt padding

North American black bear, circa 1950, full body taxidermy in…

Upright Attacking Black Bear Taxidermy

North American black bear, circa 1950, full body taxidermy in upright attacking pose (1.5m standing)

A bear skin rug, the mounted head with open mouth, the paws…

Complete Bear Skin Rug with Mounted Head and Claws

A bear skin rug, the mounted head with open mouth, the paws complete with all claws, dark brown dominant colourway with tan highlights, the brown and black cloth backing with fine zig-zag fringe. Length 1250