A Case of Curiousities

December 16, 2002 7:58 AM

A Case of Curiousities - Fine Art Taxidermy and Assemblage"Specializing in elegantly displayed antique, vintage and unusual contemporary taxidermy & entomological specimens for the collector of curiosa." The Walter Potter Gallery creeps the everloving shit out of me (it's.. a kitten.. with eight legs and two tails...), but you have to admit this floral arrangement of kittens is simply adorable.
posted by Stan Chin (20 comments total)

Oh, and do you think this Kitten Princess and Pigeon Queen are engaged in an eternal struggle for control of the Creepy Animal Kingdom? Watch out for the Birmingham Diva, she's obviously up to something.

Mr. Squirrel just wants to sip his tea in peace, let them have their war.
posted by Stan Chin at 8:06 AM on December 16, 2002

Obligatory link to the wonderful world of plastination.
posted by e.e. coli at 8:17 AM on December 16, 2002

floral arrangement of kittens is simply adorable.
what else could be said of a mixed media assemblage of silk and pre-mature kittens?
posted by quonsar at 8:27 AM on December 16, 2002

This reminds of the similar taxodermical art of French anatomist Honore Fragonard. He too would pose dead animals, but, more interesting (and fucked), he would use human corpses as well. One of his most famous sculptures, Rider of the Apocalypse, was a completely real skinless man, holding his brain in hand, and riding a skinless horse. You can see it (along with some of his other charming creations) at his museum here. . . but only the French version of the website seems to be working on my computer, so, once again I will recommend Babelfish.
posted by dgaicun at 8:28 AM on December 16, 2002

Perhaps biased by too much Hitchcock, I've always assumed that all taxidermists have the embalmed body of their mothers in the upstairs bedroom. This fellow probably has her serving cakes in a wedding gown.
posted by aladfar at 9:00 AM on December 16, 2002

Didn't Martha have a 10-minute piece on this? Something to do with using one's yappy little dog as a centrepiece, with built-in foie gras dish and biscuit tray?
posted by five fresh fish at 9:03 AM on December 16, 2002

While on the subject of taxidermy, I find 16 year old Amy Ritchie's site completely endearing.
posted by snez at 9:10 AM on December 16, 2002

those kittens look angry.
posted by toothgnip at 9:15 AM on December 16, 2002

this is great - the kittems look easy to make and I've been stuck for what to my mum for christmas. thanks!

see also the work of Thomas Grunfeld
posted by gravelshoes at 9:21 AM on December 16, 2002

Disturbing. But in a really cool way.
posted by Katemonkey at 9:25 AM on December 16, 2002

I owe it to my wonderful dad for bringing me home these cats. Whenever he sees a roadkill cat (or anything else) in good condition, he puts it in the back of his truck and brings it home to me.

Proving, for once and for all, that there really is only one way to ... eh, forget it.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:36 AM on December 16, 2002

Sorry, no. Disturbing - and not in a cool way.
posted by widdershins at 9:41 AM on December 16, 2002

vacapinta had a nice link to the the zymoglyphic museum :D monkey riding goat!
posted by kliuless at 9:48 AM on December 16, 2002

Whether you like this as an art form or find it creepy, this is a really talented individual, the one of the artist's pet Italian Greyhound (just the head) is fabulous, it looks truly alive (aside from just being a head stuck on a plaque, of course). I'd have some of these in my house, it's a whole lot more artistic (to me) than a lot of what people consider art. It's interesting.
posted by biscotti at 10:00 AM on December 16, 2002

Another artist who works with dead things. Home of the disturbing, though not made with dead stuff Bunny of the Month Club.
posted by Mr Bunnsy at 10:22 AM on December 16, 2002

How hideously exquisite!
posted by hama7 at 6:59 PM on December 16, 2002

I wonder if Diana Thorneycroft's dead bunnies would have been as "simply adorable" as those dead kittens, had her decaying rabbits worn smart frilly frocks?
posted by statisticalpurposes at 9:30 PM on December 16, 2002

That is so sick in so many ways, I can hardly describe my feelings. Strangely compelling, nonetheless. I think the eyes are following me.
posted by dg at 10:05 PM on December 16, 2002

I can't believe I have lived this long and never before seen these sites... especially Amy's:

This is my very own taxidermy shop! My wonderful dad built it for me in some spare attic space behind my room. I think it's great... I can get blood everywhere and not even have to worry about mom getting mad! Although I try to keep it as clean as possible.

Thank you, thank you all. I *heart* Mefi.
posted by jokeefe at 5:32 AM on December 17, 2002

Site with historical taxidermy information (Victorian and Edwardian):
http://freespace.virgin.net/dchapman.malden/index.htm

Factoid: The World Taxidermy Competition has a freeze-dried division.
posted by jokeefe at 5:46 AM on December 17, 2002