Victorian Taxidermy

James Gardner Taxidermy

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James Gardner of Oxford Street

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James Gardner, 426 Oxford Street London, by appointment to Her Majesty Queen Victoria

James Gardner, 426 Oxford Street, London. This taxidermy business is thought to have been founded in the 1840's by James Gardner and continued by his son James Gardner. It is thought that a third generation of the same family was also involved as the business didn't close down until 1920. The firm was known at several numbers in Oxford Street and held Royal warrants for 'Her Majesty the Queen Victoria, The Royal Families of England and France and HH The Khedive of Egypt. Therefore this firms place as one of the best british historical taxidermists is secured
James Gardner is typified with bright and sometimes lurid groundwork and well executed birds and mammals. For some reason however Gardner cases are very prone to insect attack and moth damage. A conclusion can only be drawn that the preparation to "fix" the skin did not contain sufficient arsenic in order to prevent insect damage later on. Gardner like many other taxidermists of their time created dioramas in various styles. Typically Gardner cases tend to be large ebonised box cases with either gouache or watercolour backgrounds, that were either abstract or highly detailed landscapes. Wall hanging domes and free standing domes (shades) were also used to great effect. What is evident is always a bright coloured groundwork.

Victorian White tailed Sea Eagle by James Gardner of Oxford Street. Perhaps best regarded as a unique case dated around 1880. This case came from a Scottish Estate recently. Towards extinction. This final decline of the Sea Eagle's demise was precipitated by the spread of sheep farming in the Western Highlands. Most of the local human population were dispersed to the very coastal areas favoured by sea eagles. Shepherds used poisoned baits and improved firearms to devastating effect. The Victorian passion for taxidermy and egg collecting increased as the birds became rarer and contributed to their final demise. The last known breeding attempt by indigenous sea eagles was on Skye in 1916. Two years later, the only surviving British sea eagle, an ageing albino female, was shot at her lonely outpost in Shetland. It was to be almost 70 years before sea eagles once again bred in Scotland.

A Victorian cased preserved Koala Bear by James Gardner The animal in naturalistic pose, the reverse of the case with trade label. 55 cms high. Provenance: This item was brought to England by Captain Herbert Maude, circa 1865, from Sydney on board a ship of the British India Company. He was unaware that the animal only ate eucalyptus leaves and it consequently died. On a previous trip he had brought back a wallaby which subsequently ate all of the wallpaper off his aunt's dining room, he was given to London Zoo and as a result he had free entry to the Zoo for life.

Trout by James Gardner.

Very pretty Squacco Heron by James Gardner.

Badger by James Gardner.

Stunning pair of Golden Pheasants by James Gardner.

Very simple yet effect White Pheasant by James Gardner.

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Classic James Gardner case. Sandpiper and 2 chicks. It could be argued that these are a matched pair of cases.Both cases are virtually unfaded, and have been in the same family for over 50 years.
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Classic James Gardner case. English Quail and 6 chicks. These cases were acquired yesterday and are not for sale. Both cases are virtually unfaded.

Very nice dome (removed for cleaning) of Sunbirds by James Gardner. We were delighted to be of assistence to a French collector to acquire this item. We have also been very active providing opportunities for US / European based collectors to acquire some fantastic cases from the UK.

English Partidge by James Gardner.

Mixed case od water birds, that include Snipe, Jack Snipe, Water Rail and Spotted Crake by James Gardner.

Kingfishers by James Gardner.

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Victorian Red Fox with prey by James Gardner.

Victorian Jackdaw in part abberation by James Gardner.

Victorian Jackdaw in part abberation by James Gardner. Unfortunately these genetic variations made them more desirable to victorian collectors. That said very typical of british historical taxidermy of the victorian era.