Portfolio
Antique Peregrine Falcon
This Victorian era (1884, UK) case was badly damaged by pests and in shipping. It required extensive work: thorough cleaning, reattaching wing feathers, repainting feet/beaks, reshaping/repainting eyelids, salvaging original landscaping (and blending with new material), disguising damage to prey bird, repainting the background, etc. The goal was to restore the case as close to original as possible, with a few minor improvements to the taxidermy.
Vintage American Badger
This vintage American badger head mount was in good overall condition, but the artificial jaw set was not painted accurately and two of the canine teeth were broken. Restoration included careful removal of the original jaw set and tongue, rebuilding the broken teeth, and repainting the entire jaw set and tongue to more life-like colouring. The nose and lips were also repainted, and a new circular wood mount completed the piece.
Vintage Canada Lynx
This lynx was received with no base, only exposed bolts from the feet and zap-strapped to antlers. Fur replacement was carried out in various areas, including the ears, as well as repainting of facial features and in particular the nose. A new base was landscaped with a freshly fallen snow scene of realistic rocks, moss, and trees. Finished with a custom acrylic case.
Vintage Juvenile Bald Eagle
This massive eagle was in need of extensive cleaning, and each flight feather in the extended wings had to be cleaned individually. Additionally, repainting of the feet, eyelids, and beak was required, and repair to the inside of the mouth (crumbling clay was removed and then reinforced with paper tissue and adhesive). The tongue was removed, and all parts including the inside of the mouth were painted. Finally, old paint left on the wood base by the original taxidermist was cleaned away.
Vintage Cobra and Mongoose
In addition to lacking a base, the work required for this vintage tourist piece included extensive cleaning, fixing damage to the cobra’s face due to shrinkage, creating a more realistic mouth/tongue for the mongoose, removing/replacing loose glass eyes, and repairing peeling skin on the cobra.
Vintage White Peahen
This beautiful leucistic peahen had four toes missing, damaged crown feathers, and missing neck feathers. It was also in need of cleaning, painting of the beak and legs/toes, removal/remounting of one eye (which had popped out of the socket), reshaping one side of the beak, rebuilding a missing eye ring, and adding groundscape to create a more naturalistic look.
Antique Edwardian Evening Grosbeak Case
This turn of the last century case required considerable restoration. The birds required thorough cleaning, missing eyes were replaced with authentic antique glass eyes, and each bird was secured back to its original position. A combination of the original and new landscaping brought the scene together. as well painting the wood case ebony black.
Vintage Eurasian Coot
This lovely antique coot/moorhen was in need of cleaning, and required some feather repair/replacement, repainting of the incorrectly coloured beak, and painting of the feet. Being a very old piece, the delicate webbing characteristic of moorhen feet had mostly disintegrated; this was camouflaged with natural dried moss.
Vintage Pair of Winter Ptarmigans
This pretty pair of winter ptarmigans required some extensive work. Feather replacement was needed on one wing due to pest damage, as well as securing this wing as it had become loose. One ptarmigan had a torn neck, necessitating the removal of the head in order to reinforce the neck. Grooming and repainting of the eye rings and beak completed the restoration. You can see them at Hand of Man Museum in Duncan, BC!