New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-29
NEW ART IN T1XIDERMY
Clay Model of Form Made for
Plaster Cast to Support Skin.

To the naturalist working to provide speci-
mems for natural history museums, to the hunter
eaeer to preserve the head and perhaps the
whole skin OF his first deer. and even TO the
man who keeps the corner saloon, and de-
Sizes TO have In the window the stuffed figure
Of his pet terrier. which for years contributed
an important feature of the corner life, there
is equal pleasure In the announcement that
rev method Of taxidermy has been discovered
II is interesting to note also that this new
method approaches art rather than mechanics,
Tor modelling in clay rather than clumsily COM
bining plaster. excelsior and other crude sub
stances is the new method. The old taxidermist
stuffed the skin and sought to give it at least
zemblance Of life: the newer workman models in
olay and must be a close student Of the anatomy
Of his subject.
In the old manner of work the bones OF the
animals were used permanently in the mount.
iron rods were attached to the legs for sup
port, crude outline Of the animal was
cat III wood the backbone Of the
mount. and upon this framework excelsior
Dound. and then over the excelsior and the
frame the workman smeared soft layer OF
plaster All the modelling was In the main
guesswork, the form crude and unsatisfactory,
but even these were not the worst features OF the
old method When the skin stretched over
the plaster It invariably stuck to the mould with
the result that many sportsman to-day finds
some treasured sporting trophy cracking and
splitting. and in museums specimens Of great
value have been permanently injured by the
tearing Of the skin caused by the same process.
In contrast with this method IS the new
process. il which from the very start the aim Is
to catch the lifelike pose of the animal to be
treated. Directly after the subject is killed the
taxidormiSt begins his work. First he asIIres
the animal determining its height and length
and the circumference of its body. These meas
urenents furnish accurate data Then the bones
Of the skull, limbs and shoulders are saved and
the modeller is ready to begin. The skin is
treated with salt. is thinned down. and then
placed at the disposal Of the modeIler, who is
busy shaping a clay figure reproducinf; the
characteristic attitude of the subject. At fire.
quent intervals the skin is tried on the clay
model This is possible. because. unlike the
p.aster the clay does not adhere to the skin.
ON a frame sufficiently heavy to support the
heavy clay the bones and skull are placed.
With the bones as n guide and with n
thorough knowledge of the anatomy of the sub
jet as a further source of guidance the clay is
worked up When the frame Of clay is completed
plaster mould is made. and from this a light
durable cast is taken. When the cast is done
the framework and bones are discarded and
after treating the cast with shellac, to render it
waterproof, the main labor is ended The skin is
then brought from the tanner. and, mostening
it and using a paste of -four and glue the taxi
ears worked up at the very last with PAPER
mache, and the more delicate modelling about
the eyes and mouth is done from the outer sur
face of the skin. with soft papier nlache UNDER
meath
The method is not merely more exact than
the old; 1t is also longer and more expensive