| 1. Taxidermy is a method of preserving elements of an animal for study or display after the animal has died. Museums use taxidermy as a method to record species, including those that are extinct and threatened, in the form of study skins and life-size mounts
2. Our collection includes birds, animals, insects and invertebrates from habitats found in the Tees Valley. 3. Preserving animal skins has been practiced throughout human history. For example, embalmed animals have been found with Egyptian mummies. Although embalming incorporates lifelike poses, it is not considered taxidermy. In the Middle Ages, crude examples of taxidermy were displayed by astrologers and apothecaries. The earliest methods of preservation of birds for natural history cabinets were published in 1748 by René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur in France. The golden age of taxidermy was during the Victorian era, when mounted animals became a popular part of interior design and decor. |
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What is this?
Contextual images /videos
| Find out more about how taxidermy collections are crated and cared for, and the art of taxidermy on the Natural History Museums website.
|
Curriculum Possibilities
History
- Comparing aspects of life in different periods
Science
- Living things and their habitats
- Seasonal changes and global warming
Geography
- Simple Maps
Featured activity idea
We know now that we need to protect our environment and wild animals, not hunt or kill them. What other ways do we have today for saving and sharing information about the natural world?
Design a poster to encourage people to look after our world. What would you ask them to do? What is a good way to get their attention? Can you include pictures as well as words?
How to book this object
Museum name: Kirkleatham Museum
Contact name: Ellen Bissell / Liz Vine
Phone number: 01642 479500
Email: museumenquiries@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Please contact the museum to bookn and arrange for collection of this object.
What is this?
| 1. Taxidermy is a method of preserving elements of an animal for study or display after the animal has died. Museums use taxidermy as a method to record species, including those that are extinct and threatened, in the form of study skins and life-size mounts
2. Our collection includes birds, animals, insects and invertebrates from habitats found in the Tees Valley. 3. Preserving animal skins has been practiced throughout human history. For example, embalmed animals have been found with Egyptian mummies. Although embalming incorporates lifelike poses, it is not considered taxidermy. In the Middle Ages, crude examples of taxidermy were displayed by astrologers and apothecaries. The earliest methods of preservation of birds for natural history cabinets were published in 1748 by René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur in France. The golden age of taxidermy was during the Victorian era, when mounted animals became a popular part of interior design and decor.
|
Contextual images /videos
Find out more about how taxidermy collections are created and cared for, and the art of taxidermy on the Natural History Museum’s website.
Curriculum possibilities
History
- Continuity and change
- Cause and consequence
- Trends over time
Geography
- Simple maps
- Natural resources
Science
- Living things in their habitat
- Soudd
- Climate change and global warming
Seasonal changes including global warming and climate change
Featured activity idea
We know now that we need to protect our environment and wild animals, not hunt them, but the Victorian collectors had different views, as do some people around the world today. Ask the children to create a chart of pro’s and con’s of taxidermy. This could be from either a historic point of view, or modern day. What other ways do we have today for saving and sharing information about the natural world?
How to book this object
Museum name: Kirkleatham Museum
Contact name: Ellen Bissell / Liz Vine
Phone number: 01642 479500
Email: museumenquiries@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Please contact the Kirkleatham learning team to arrange for collection of this object
Background information
1. Taxidermy is a method of preserving elements of an animal for study or display after the animal has died. Museums use taxidermy as a method to record species, including those that are extinct and threatened, in the form of study skins and life-size mounts
2. Our collection includes birds, animals, insects and invertebrates from habitats found in the Tees Valley.
3. Preserving animal skins has been practiced throughout human history. For example, embalmed animals have been found with Egyptian mummies. Although embalming incorporates lifelike poses, it is not considered taxidermy. In the Middle Ages, crude examples of taxidermy were displayed by astrologers and apothecaries. The earliest methods of preservation of birds for natural history cabinets were published in 1748 by René-Antoine Ferchault de Réaumur in France. The golden age of taxidermy was during the Victorian era, when mounted animals became a popular part of interior design and decor.
contextual images / videos
Find out more about how taxidermy collections are created and cared for, and the art of taxidermy on the Natural History Museum’s website.
Topic Possibilities
- Natural History
- Collecting in the Victorian era
- Climate change and care for the planet
Featured Activity Idea
- Design a poster to encourage people to look after local wildlife
- Research more about the history of taxidermy. Create a chart to show the pro’s and con’s of taxidermy
- Create an imaginative story about your bird or animal
- Animate a short piece using the taxidermy as inspiration
- Research more about your animal and make a factfile