Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-11-30
ART Of MODERN 1Ay|OERMY
Sculpture Practiced in Mounting
Animal Skins.
Clay Model First Constructed, from
which Plaster Mould Is Made
skin Is Then Made to Fit
Snugly.

wooden forms, or. as of old simply stuff
ed with excelsior, cotton, nair, or saw
dust
Now- days. taxidermists are scuptcrs
and not upholsterers All modern taxi
dermistsin their treatment OF the larger
mammals al least-and particularly those
of the National Museum, who were among
The pioneers in this art, construct life
sized hollow plaster figures which prove
not only light and durable. out far more
realistic than those produced ty the old
or methods.
After tho skin has been cleaned and
tanned. it Is turned over to the taxidor-
mist together with the skull, and wha,-
ever other bcnes may have been pre-
served Sometimes he has no bones or
i've material to study, but has 10 meas
ure tho skin and calculate his dimen-
sions q best he can, relying on life casts,
photographs. or field measurements and
notes made by the collector, and his own
knowledge OF anatomy. " he is not IA
niliar with the animal to he mounted,
the museum taxidernst studies the live
animal at the National Geological paris,
when possible. and then models clay min
iatures. often trying out several poses,
one Of which is selected and approved by
the biologists. He then begins his full
sized clay model.
Some taxidermists believe in utilizing
certain bones. particularly the skull, leg
homes and the backbone. in building a
framework for model while others
measure the homes and make the frame
work out of iron rods, and pieces ot
board. In any event rough frame"ork
| is constructed, with either iron rods or
bones. and to this the modelling clay is
| applied Tho taxdermist now works
much as does a sculptor. adding clay here
and removing 1t there, smoothing out the
iunctures until he rounds ont an ara
tomical model. Great care is taken to re-
produce accurately all joints. muscles
and hollows.
PLASTER rARIS MOULD.
Having completed his clay model, he
lis now ready to construct the mould
| around il. This mould is cast of plaster
of-paris. and constructed in several sec
tions, each one reinforced with rods 10
keep it from warping or falling apart
/ In making the figure Of Virginia deer
for example, mould of from u To J
pieces an inch in thickness, would 10
utilized in tho museum shops The main
section. or foundation, of this mould GOV
ers all tho underparts Of the animal;
body, and the inside Of the legs othel
pieces form the outside of each leg, still
head and eventually the whole animal i!
boxed in. In the construction Of the sep
arate pieces. strips Of tin or thin walls a.
clay, are placed along the intersections
which are trimmed on the hevel and oile'
before the adjoining sections are cast
The plaster is applied in the ordinary
manner, about an inch thick. and Whel
it is thoroughly set, the separations arr
opened, and the pieces are taken off tn
clay model. which is destroyed. The in
side Of each piece is retouched uher
necessary with fresh plaster, and smooth
ed up on the edges. until they fit to
gether.
! The next step is the making Of tn
"manikin'' on the inside of the moul'
Just completed. 1t is not cast solid, o
, in one piece. but built M in thin sec
tions, one each on every piece of tn
, mould. it's outer lines conforming exact
. lily with those of its mould. Begnnin
= for example, with a section of the haCI
mould. the museum taxidermiSt cuts Oh
a piece Of sheeting to III the section. past
ing it into the mould with flour or glue
n so that it fits into every impression
, which is necessary, since the inside wi
eventually no The outside of tho tinishc
form. In tho manufacture of tigures o
smooth haired animals requiring
smooth exterior heavy shooting Is en-
ployed. but in some of the long-haire
animals. such as the hear, coarse hurla
. may he used. a thin wash Of plaster
put on the first layer of cloth and the
two sections Of burlap immersed in pas
ter are applied resulting in a thin she
J. from one-fourth to three-eighths of a
, inch in thickness Sometimes wire-clot
c is used in the place Of hurlap. This proc
ess is followed in making each piece T
ion al ln NJ
G made sections of the figure are moistene
u, to dissolve the paste or glue mentione
above, and removed from their moulds.
FITTING THE SKIN
The various pieces are now fitted tc
4 Gether and cemented with moro plaste
= the seams being backed up from the II
e side by pieces of burlap dipped in pla'
= ter. As The assembling proceeds. brace
3 Of wood are placed within for reinforc,
?. ment. All the pieces are fastened L
Sether, except a small section. usual
on top OF one hip left for a hand hol
through which the last piece is fiXe
v, and air is admitted for drying out.
n wire tail wrapped in hemp is made ar
II fastened inside through this openm
t. Considerable retouchins and a coat
ID shellac are necessary before the skin
v put on and stuck fast with glue or she
l.
~ insects. With hornless animals tho SIX
In OF the head is simply pulled over the a
Nv sembled form and sewed nes tly where
is cut, but when the horns are include
they are left attached to tho crown
J. the skull, which is sawed off and slipp,
through ''Y" cut in the skin of Il
~ head. where it is attached by screws to
10 block Of wood set in the ton of the hea
a. All cuts and seams are nov scwed {
~ gether. and the hoofS or claws are mo
elled or filled out with clay where tn
ioin the legs, Glass eyes are also 5
into their pockets with clay. 50 that tn
may be manipulated and fixed i'm t
~ proper line OF vision. The animal is col
20 plete now. except that the skin must
made to fit snuGly, especially IN the h,
-, lows. This is done by lacking il dov
=, with strips or cardhosrd or pieces
80 rore "lch are left there until tho SIX
is stuck.
After drying out, the hair is careful
~, combed and brushed especially over I
~, seams. Certain parts Of the nose. mour
"' eye lids, and hoofS are retouchcd vi
wax. and colorcd or stained 70 mat,
, Presently the taXidermiet has finish
~ and has produced what appears TO he
Nv real animal
BRIDGE TO STAND % TONS