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I have been an avid bird watcher and wildlife enthusiast all my life, and am still a dedicated member of the R.S.P.B. NATIONAL TRUST, NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST, THE RAPTOR TRUST, AND THE WORLD WILDLIFE FUND. I first became involved in taxidermy at 10 years old mainly as a collector. On leaving school, I gained employment with Norfolk County Council in the Highways Department. As a result of working on the highway, I was guaranteed to find victims of Road Traffic Accidents, which I took for mounting at my local taxidermist. As the years went by, I became more involved in taxidermy. Then, in 1990, I started preserving and mounting my own birds and animals. I have been a practising taxidermist ever since. The birds and animals I preserve and mount are done under license from the Department of the Environment and have all died from either natural causes or were Road Victims. They are also created using traditional methods and where possible using natural materials as I believe these to be superior to the synthetic materials which are often used today. DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT LICENCE NO: WLF 100096. EC. GEX. 100098.
Taxidermy is the art of creating the form and character of Birds and Animals in their natural habitat. The word 'Taxidermy' is derived from the Greek 'taxis' meaning ' fixing' and 'derma' meaning 'skin'. Taking this 'skin fixing' literally, it is clear that the origins of taxidermy must go back to the emergence of civilized man. Man was a hunter long before he farmed the land, and the use of animal hide for clothing must have involved some basic means of preservation, even if it was no more than fat removal and drying of the hide. The Ancient Egyptians also practised 'skin fixing' by embalming and preserving bodies from decay by the use of aromatics, antiseptics, and dessication. The embalming techniques were remarkably successful, proof being the number of perfectly preserved mummies in museums today. The beginnings of true taxidermy (as opposed to straightforward preservation) started in sixteenth century Holland, when a Dutch nobleman collected a number of tropical birds into in a heated aviary. One night, the fumes from the heater killed them and as he was reluctant to dispose of the dead birds, he sought the advice of his country's most eminent chemists. They told him to skin the birds and fill them with spices. He also used wires to mount them on perches, as is still done today. He pursued his hobby for many years and accumulated the first recorded systematic collection of mounted birds. This must have laid the foundation for the taxidermy practiced today.
A range of specimens are kept in stock at all times.
All work is guaranteed against poor craftsmanship and defects. All specimens are washed, degreased, preserved, and an insect repellent applied. Please telephone to arrange an appointment, and avoid a wasted journey, as hours of business are varied.
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Neil
Platten,
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