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...

48 items found:

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

A zebra hide, South African, 270 cm long from tail to snout,…

South African Zebra Hide: 270cm Long, 190cm Wide

A zebra hide, South African, 270 cm long from tail to snout, 190 cm wide at hindquarters

Zebra hide rug, . Provenance: The Estate of Irena Nebenzahl,…

Irena's Zebra Hide Rug

Zebra hide rug, . Provenance: The Estate of Irena Nebenzahl, Sydney

Two Australian police coshes, one with steel bar and weighted…

Australian Police Coshes from Late 19th Century

Two Australian police coshes, one with steel bar and weighted interior covered with animal tail leather hide, the second with a spiral whale baleen shaft with lead filled and woven bulb ends, with leather wrist strap, late 19th century, the largest 34 cm…

A taxidermy Siberian Lynx pelt, mounted on a dark brown velvet…

Siberian Lynx Taxidermy on Velvet Frame

A taxidermy Siberian Lynx pelt, mounted on a dark brown velvet and attached with Velcro and pins to the framed background. 140 x 150 cm

Black cow hide rug, 20th century, 214 x 212 cm. Provenance: The…

Lorna Mellor's Black Cow Hide Rug

Black cow hide rug, 20th century, 214 x 212 cm. Provenance: The collection of Lorna Mellor AM, Padulla Place, Castle Cove, house designed by Peter Swan and interiors by Marion Hall Best, c. 1964.

A full leopard pelt, length 204 cm, width 122 cm

Large Leopard Pelt: 204cm x 122cm

A full leopard pelt, length 204 cm, width 122 cm

A chital axis hide, Indian spotted deer, in good condition. 116…

Pristine Chital Axis Hide - 116 x 140 cm

A chital axis hide, Indian spotted deer, in good condition. 116 x 140 cm.

A small impala hide, some wear. 110 x 110 cm.

Worn Impala Hide, 110 x 110 cm

A small impala hide, some wear. 110 x 110 cm.

A Vicuna pelt rug, Chilie, pre World War II, some stitching…

Rare Vicuna Pelt Rug from Pre-WWII Chile

A Vicuna pelt rug, Chilie, pre World War II, some stitching loose, pelts in good condition,a rare item bought to Australia from Chile pre World War II, Vicunas were hunted without restrictions from the period of Spanish conquest to 1964 which reduced its…

Large beige coloured cow hide rug 220 cm X 180 cm.

Beige Cowhide Rug - 220cm x 180cm

Large beige coloured cow hide rug 220 cm X 180 cm.

A cow hide rug, 255 cm x 207 cm

Large Cow Hide Rug - 255 x 207 cm

A cow hide rug, 255 cm x 207 cm

A reindeer hide rug, the pelt of soft brown and white tones,…

Soft Brown and White Reindeer Hide Rug

A reindeer hide rug, the pelt of soft brown and white tones, well-tanned. 135 x 113 cm.

A reindeer hide rug, the winter pelt of soft brown and white…

Winter Reindeer Hide Rug

A reindeer hide rug, the winter pelt of soft brown and white tones, well-tanned.

Mounted ocelot pelt, frame size 139 cm x 70 cm

Ocelot Pelt Mount in 139x70cm Frame

Mounted ocelot pelt, frame size 139 cm x 70 cm

A leopard skin pelt with fully mounted head.

Leopard Mount with Full Pelt

A leopard skin pelt with fully mounted head.

Antique Coyote skin rug pelt, 1.5m

1.5m Antique Coyote Skin Rug

Antique Coyote skin rug pelt, 1.5m

Leopard pelt mounted on cloth and with the eyes, teeth and…

African Leopard Pelt Mounted on Cloth

Leopard pelt mounted on cloth and with the eyes, teeth and claws removed, probably African, size 220 cm x 150 cm

A vintage Wolf pelt (Canis Lupus), mounted on brown felt,…

Vintage Wolf Pelt on Brown Felt - 168x108cm

A vintage Wolf pelt (Canis Lupus), mounted on brown felt, length 168 cm, width 108 cm

A full leopard skin pelt, the head including nose, whiskers and…

Full Leopard Skin Pelt with Head, Paws, and Claws

A full leopard skin pelt, the head including nose, whiskers and ears, the paws with most claws intact, unbacked. Length approx. 1960.

Early 20th century Leopard pelt, on Regimental red felt backing,…

Early 20th Century Leopard Pelt with Regimental Red Felt Backing

Early 20th century Leopard pelt, on Regimental red felt backing, most likely for a Raj Officer, label is removed but for Van Ingen & Van ingen, approx 192 cm long

An Australian Cow Hide, by Johnson leather Company. 140 x 153…

Australian Cow Hide - 140 x 153 cm

An Australian Cow Hide, by Johnson leather Company. 140 x 153 cm.

A taxidermy Corsican sheep, with spiralling horns, black hide…

Spiralled Corsican Sheep Taxidermy - 67cm

A taxidermy Corsican sheep, with spiralling horns, black hide with touches of white. Span 67 cm

A kangaroo pelt rug, a patchwork rectangular floor rug, backed…

Kangaroo Patchwork Rug with Chevron Edging

A kangaroo pelt rug, a patchwork rectangular floor rug, backed with brown felt with chevron edging and a pinking shear trim. Length 145 cm. Width 132 cm

Cow hide, approx 220 cm x 166 cm

Large Cow Hide: 220cm x 166cm

Cow hide, approx 220 cm x 166 cm

A vintage leopard skin rug (Panthera Pardus). Early 20th…

Early 20th Century Leopard Skin Rug

A vintage leopard skin rug (Panthera Pardus). Early 20th century. The full pelt rug with taxidermic head with snarling expression, the skin mounted on black cotton fabric with black felt edging. Length 221 cm. Width 143 cm

African Genet cat pelt L103 cm approx (with felt back)

African Genet Cat Pelt - 103cm with Felt Backing

African Genet cat pelt L103 cm approx (with felt back)

A mounted leopard skin pelt, with felt Backing, mid 20th…

Mid 20th Century Leopard Skin Pelt with Felt Backing

A mounted leopard skin pelt, with felt Backing, mid 20th century. Length 220 cm

A mounted zebra skin pelt, with felt Backing, mid 20th century.…

Mid 20th Century Zebra Skin Pelt with Felt Backing

A mounted zebra skin pelt, with felt Backing, mid 20th century. Length 310 cm

An Australian 49 pelt platypus skin rug. 132 x 155 cm. This rug…

Antique Platypus Skin Rug from Tasmania

An Australian 49 pelt platypus skin rug. 132 x 155 cm. This rug was acquired by the vendor from John Bovill, now deceased, in 1997. The rug had been in Mr Bovill's family, residents of Tasmania, since the pelts were collected in the late 19th and early…

A pair of old rhinoceros horns, from the one animal with…

Colonel's Rhino Horns with Hide - Kenya 1940s

A pair of old rhinoceros horns, from the one animal with section of hide attached. Length approx. 40 cm and 20 cm. Total weight 2.75kgs. Provenance: This pair of horns comes from a rhinoceros shot by Colonel J.H. Wright of the British Army, while in Kenya…

Zebra Hide 20th century full tanned skin. Provenance:…

20th Century Zebra Hide with Export Certificate

Zebra Hide 20th century full tanned skin. Provenance: accompanied by animal Health export certificate

A Kashmiri embroidered long stitch leopard pelt, on black felt,…

Kashmiri Embroidered Leopard Pelt on Black Felt

A Kashmiri embroidered long stitch leopard pelt, on black felt, 144.7 cm

Cow hide floor rug

Chic Cowhide Floor Rug

Cow hide floor rug

Rare handmade circular 12 pelt impala skin rug, 1.8m

Handmade 12-Pelt Impala Skin Rug - 1.8m Diameter

Rare handmade circular 12 pelt impala skin rug, 1.8m

Rare antique 36 Ocelot pelt rug, 1.8 x 1m

Antique Ocelot Pelt Rug - Rare Find!

Rare antique 36 Ocelot pelt rug, 1.8 x 1m

A leopard skin (Panthera Pardus), a full unmounted pelt. Length…

Full Leopard Pelt: 208cm x 120cm

A leopard skin (Panthera Pardus), a full unmounted pelt. Length 208 cm. Width 120 cm

A leopard skin (Panthera Pardus), a full unmounted pelt. Length…

Full Leopard Skin Pelt: 154x112cm

A leopard skin (Panthera Pardus), a full unmounted pelt. Length 154 cm. Width 112 cm

An African zebra taxidermy pelt mounted on felt backing. Length…

African Zebra Taxidermy Pelt Mounted on Felt Backing

An African zebra taxidermy pelt mounted on felt backing. Length 320

Brown and white cow hide

Spotted Beauty: Brown and White Cow Hide

Brown and white cow hide

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

An antique lion skin rug (Panthera Leo), late 19th century, a…

Late 19th Century Lion Skin Rug

An antique lion skin rug (Panthera Leo), late 19th century, a mature female lion, the pelt complete with taxidermic head and all paws, the whole mounted on hand stitched crimped beige and orange felt and further mounted onto a woollen tartan backing.…

A hog deer pelt (Axis Porcinus), a cased hide in beige and…

Beige and Brown Hog Deer Pelt - 110 x 80cm

A hog deer pelt (Axis Porcinus), a cased hide in beige and light brown. Length 110 cm. Width 80 cm

A taxidermy lioness pelt with mounted head, early 20th century…

Early 20th Century Lioness Taxidermy Pelt with Head

A taxidermy lioness pelt with mounted head, early 20th century mounted on cloth backing length 230 cm

A Colobus monkey pelt rug, circular, formed of seventy-two…

Colobus Monkey Pelt Concentric Rug

A Colobus monkey pelt rug, circular, formed of seventy-two pelts sewn together to show off the natural markings of the pelts in a concentric design. Diameter 300 cm

A taxidermy mounted leopard pelt with head, c.1920's, with…

1920s Leopard Taxidermy Mount with Head and Backing

A taxidermy mounted leopard pelt with head, c.1920's, with leather and felt backing, length 185 cm

Extremely large brown and white cow hide rug, 245 cm long,  240…

Massive Brown and White Cowhide Rug - 245x240cm

Extremely large brown and white cow hide rug, 245 cm long, 240 cm wide

A marmot pelt, 54 cm length

54cm Marmot Pelt for Sale

A marmot pelt, 54 cm length

A large South American red fox pelt throw rug trimmed with tail,…

South American Red Fox Fur Throw Rug with Tail Trim

A large South American red fox pelt throw rug trimmed with tail, 195 x 205 cm