Victorian Taxidermy by Peter Spicer & Company


Victorian Antique Taxidermy

We get asked to recommend Taxidermy Resources by our friends, if you don't find what your looking for then please feel free to contact us. If you also wish to link to us then your taxidermy information shall only be placed in the appropriate class. The aim of this webpage is to bring together the taxidermy work of Peter Spicer and the Peter Spicer Company so that you can appreciate the depth and extent of the work carried out. For a definitive opinion on the work carried out by the firm of Peter Spicer and Sons, you would do well to purchase the book written by Mr R Chinnery. It cannot be over emphasised the contribution that Robert Chinnery has made to the re-vitalisation of this art form.
This is a new book, and the only publication to date devoted to the history of the famous taxidermy firm of Peter Spicer & Sons of Royal Leamington Spa, circa 1798-1960. There is also a lengthy, and general, "Review of Victorian Taxidermy", by Pat Morris, who sets the scene for the era during which Spicer's established their high reputation. This is not an academic work, but a book produced by a collector of Spicer taxidermy, and created out of enthusiasm for the subject.

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Two excellent books by Rob Chinnery on both Peter Spicer and Peter Spicer & Sons and Taxidermy in general


Antique Peter Spicer taxidermy cases by example. We hope you enjoy them


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Commonly known as "The Conniston Fox", this is perhaps the finest fox produced by Peter Spicer & Co. Currently not for sale.

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Victorian Hen Harrier by Peter Spicer & Sons. No need to add any more, other than not for sale

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Victorian Hen Harrier in close up by Peter Spicer & Sons. No need to add any more, other than not for sale

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Fox with English Partridge prey by Peter Spicer .


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Male Polecat with Mistle Thrush prey by Peter Spicer. The polecat used to be called a 'foul mart' because of its strong smell. The name polecat is said to be from the French poule chat,'the chicken cat' and it will kill chickens given the chance! The polecat was also trapped for its fur, known as 'fitch', which was widely used in the early nineteenth century. Records show that a total of 400 polecat pelts was sold at the old Fur Fair in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1829, and 600 in 1831. In 1866, however, the number of furs for sale there was only six, after which they were not included in the records. Soon after 1907 the Scotish polecats seem to have become extinct.
Shakespeare’s time ‘polecat’ was used to indicate vagabonds and prostitutes. As a consequence the polecat has been persecuted since medieval times, often with a bounty on its head. Yet it survived until the late 1800’s, which saw the rise of the great sporting estates and the associated game keepers. By 1915 they only survived in any number in a small mountainous area of central Wales. The polecat was saved by the First World War: many game-keepers left to join the forces, and estate management was never again as extensive. Through the second half of the 20th century the polecat gradually re-colonised the rest of Wales, then began to move into the English border counties. There have been re-introductions into Cumbria and parts of Scotland, but we can be reasonable certain that the polecats in Cheshire are natural colonists from the west.

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Red Grouse by Peter Spicer .


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Magpie by Peter Spicer .


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Seabirds by Peter Spicer .


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Greenshank and Spotted Crakes by Peter Spicer .


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Red Footed Falcons by Peter Spicer .


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White Pheasant by Peter Spicer .


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Peregrine Falcon by Peter Spicer .


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African Grey Parrot by Peter Spicer .


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Badger by Peter Spicer .


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Cormorant by Peter Spicer .


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Hobby by Peter Spicer .


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Brown Trout by Peter Spicer .


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White Pheasants by Peter Spicer .


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Choughs by Peter Spicer .


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Stone Curlew by Peter Spicer .


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Peregrine Faclon by Peter Spicer .


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Hobby by Peter Spicer .


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Sparrowhawks by Peter Spicer .


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Kestrels by Peter Spicer .


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Gyr Falcon by Peter Spicer .


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Grey hen in close up by Peter Spicer .


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Kestrels by Peter Spicer .


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Abberation Pine Marten and English Partidge prey by Peter Spicer .


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Green Woodpecker and Little Owls by Peter Spicer .


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Hermaphrodite Pheasant by Peter Spicer .


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European Badger by Peter Spicer .


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Male Sparrowhawk with Starling prey by Peter Spicer .


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Polecat with Mistle Thrush prey by Peter Spicer .


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Ravens with Rabbit prey by Peter Spicer .


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Hooded Crows by Peter Spicer .


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European Badger by Peter Spicer .


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Fox at bay by Peter Spicer .


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Otter Pup by Peter Spicer & Co.

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Barn Owl by Peter Spicer .


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Snowy Owl by Peter Spicer .


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Snowy Owl by Peter Spicer .


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Short Eared Owl by Peter Spicer .


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Sparrowhawks by Peter Spicer .


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Male Merlin by Peter Spicer .


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Black Grouse by Peter Spicer .


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Manx Shearwater by Peter Spicer .


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Watercolour of Pheasants by Peter Spicer .


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Fox with Rabbit prey by EF Spicer, a cousin of Peter Spicer


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Fox with Rabbit prey by EF Spicer, a cousin of Peter Spicer


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Shelduck and Teal by Peter Spicer


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Signature pebble by Peter Spicer


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Fox mask by Peter Spicer. So typical of the hgundreds, if not thousands produced by this firm


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Otter Mask by Peter Spicer


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Trout by EF Spicer, a cousin of Peter Spicer


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European Jay by Peter Spicer.


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Ringed Plovers in detail by Peter Spicer.


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Trout by Peter Spicer & Sons .


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Kingfishers by Peter Spicer .


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European Shag by Peter Spicer .


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Hemaprodite Pheasant by Peter Spicer .


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Hare mask by Peter Spicer.


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European Jay by EF Spicer.


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Common Buzzards by Peter Spicer. Not the best examples we have seen as these birds are early and faded specimens.


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Common Buzzards by Peter Spicer. Not the best examples we have seen as these birds are early and faded specimens.


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Kingfisher by Peter Spicer.


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Victorian Kingfisher in detail by EF Spicer.

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Water Rail by EF Spicer.


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Red Legged Partridge by Peter Spicer .


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Abberation Mallard by Peter Spicer.


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Green Woodpecker by Peter Spicer.


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Woodpecker and Little Owls by Peter Spicer.


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Victorian Black Headed Gull by Peter Spicer.

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Close up Postcard of the shop front of EF Spicer. For more on this famous family of taxidermist then go to the Spicer page on this site.

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Victorian part Abberation Pheasant by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Otter by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Otter head by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian signed pebble by Peter Spicer. This is typical of the way the cases were identified.

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Victorian Heron by EF Spicer.

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Victorian Teal by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Teal duck by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Badger by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian label by Peter Spicer for the case above.

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Tigers head by the Victorian artist Peter Spicer in close up.

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Victorian Hare's head by Peter Spicer.

Peter Spicer Victorian Artwork


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Victorian watercolour of a Woodpigeon by Peter Spicer. More noted for his taxidermy but clearly a competent artist as well.

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Victorian watercolour of a Lapwing by Peter Spicer. More noted for his taxidermy but clearly a competent artist as well.

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Victorian watercolour of a Fox mask by Peter Spicer. More noted for his taxidermy but clearly a competent artist as well.

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Victorian watercolour of a Fox mask by Peter Spicer. More noted for his taxidermy but clearly a competent artist as well.

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Victorian watercolour of Mallards by Peter Spicer. More noted for his taxidermy but clearly a competent artist as well.

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Victorian Tawny Owl by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian label by Peter Spicer on the above case.

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Victorian English Partridge by Peter Spicer.

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Magical pair of Pochard. Taxidermy created by Peter Spicer, as if that was not obvious.Victorian case.This case is the matched pair of Wigeon further down this page.

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Victorian Reeves Pheasant by Peter Spicer & Sons. No need to add any more
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Victorian Reeves Pheasant by Peter Spicer & Sons
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Victorian Golden Eagle with Blackcock prey by Peter Spicer. The eagle remains but the cases is no longer as the image seen here. Understood that it may have formed a larger display and taken from the original case.

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Victorian Golden Eagle as above without the prey item or case by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian calling card by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Fox mask by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian label by Peter Spicer.

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Great Crested Grebe by Peter Spicer. Another cased gem, that is both fresh to the market and not for sale. Restoration required and it wil look fantastic again.

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Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. This image is taken from the excellent work."A Record of Spicers". This book is now a collectors piece in its own right.

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Victorian male Goldeneye by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa, owned by Dr R Church

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Victorian Mountain Hare by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. The signed pebble is located to the right of the case, which was Spicer's trade mark.

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Peter Spicer Otter paw, circa 1955.

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Peter Spicer Otter paw hallmark for the above item, circa 1955.

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Peter Spicer Fox and European Arctic Hare. The Fox is faded as you can see but the overall case is wonderfully observed

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Peter Spicer Fox and European Arctic Hare. The Fox is faded as you can see but the overall case is wonderfully observed

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New Zealand Kiwi by Peter Spicer.

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Peter Spicer label that you are likely to find on the back of cases.

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Victorian Fox mask by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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Polecat with Thrush prey by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Polecat with Thrush prey by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa in close up.

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Male Ring Necked Pheasant in Summer scene by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Victorian baby Badger cub by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. The signed pebble is located to the right of the case, which was Spicer's trade mark.

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Victorian Fox mask by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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Common Buzzard by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.


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Gooseander by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Ringed Plovers with chicks by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Spur Winged Plover by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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European Red Squirrel by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. Complete with signed pebble in the front left corner of the case.

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European Heron by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. Fabulous watercolour background depicting Mallards in flight.

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Common Terns by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Female Shelduck and Male Teal by Peter Spicer


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Conniston Fox by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Sea Birds by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Perhaps one of the most unusual Spicer cases. Small Crocodile by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa. Victorian case.

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Little Grebe by Peter Spicer.

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Victorian Teal by Peter Spicer & Sons.

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Victorian Sparrowhawk by Peter Spicer & Sons.

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Victorian Fox mask by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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Peter Spicer label that you are likely to find in the groundwork.

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Charming Red Squirrel with very subtle watercolour background by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.


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Peter Spicer label that you are likely to find in the groundwork.

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White Ring Necked Pheasants by Peter Spicer. Unusual also to find wooden branches in the case.

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Iconic case of Wildcat and Grouse prey. Taxidermy created by Peter Spicer.Victorian case.

Cases produced by this firm nornally had a large trade lable to the reverso to the taxidermy case. Also each case would have a signed pebble or flat stone, placed in full view. This would have been signed and dated either by Peter Spicer himself or Peter Spicer and Sons. For an example, this is very evident in the bottom right hand corner of the Ptarmigan case and the bottom right of the Magpie case at the bottom of this page. Each case would have had a delightful watercolour that presented the subject as close to its natural habitat as possible. Some Spicer taxidermy cases were produced with plain backgrounds, but the norm was watercolours. The perspectives acheived are wonderful, as this demonstarted by examples pictured here.

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Red grouse by Peter Spicer


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Just a Typical example of a Spicer Fox Mask. Hundreds if not Thousands were produced. Not that special, just a good example of the work carried for a specific market.

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Fabulous case of Green Woodpecker and Little Owls by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Merlins by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa


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Magical pair of Widgeon. Taxidermy created by Peter Spicer, as if that was not obvious.Victorian case.

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Victorian European Male Kestrel with vole prey, by Peter Spicer.

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Magpie by Peter Spicer, from the BCB collection

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Male Hobby by Peter Spicer, from the BCB collection

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Male Pheasant by Peter Spicer


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Female Hen Harrier by Peter Spicer, owned by Dr R Church


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Male Merlin with Snipe prey by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa, owned by BCB Collector


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Magical Peter Spicer Wigeon from the BCB collection. A "one off" case.


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African Impala head by Peter Spier, excellent example.

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Ptarmigans by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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Various selection of Otter Masks by Peter Spicer & Sons.


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Little Owl by Peter Spicer.

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Long Eared Owl by Peter Spicer.

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Badger Mask by Peter Spicer.

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Stoat in Ermin by Peter Spicer.

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Ferret by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa

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Waxwing by Peter Spicer, owned by Dr R Church


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European Badger by Peter Spicer

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White Ring Necked Pheasant by Peter Spicer


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White Ring Necked Pheasant by Peter Spicer


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Pair of Black Grouse by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa


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Sparrowhawk and Crossbill prey by Peter Spicer.

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Barn Owl by Peter Spicer&Sons of Leamington Spa.

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European Otter by Peter Spicer.

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European Jay by Peter Spicer.

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Ptarmigans by Peter Spicer.

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Fox mask by Peter Spicer & Sons


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Fox mask by Peter Spicer & Sons


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Capercaille by Peter Spicer.

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Herring Gull by Peter Spicer of Leamington Spa.

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Ring Necked Pheasant by Peter Spicer of Leamington Span.

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Victorian case of a Goldeneye Drake by Peter Spicer.

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Peter Spicer label that you are likely to find on the back of cases.

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Common Buzzard by GW Quatremain of Malvern. Whilst not strictly the work of Spicer it has been suggested that he may have worked at the Spicer Yard. The quality of the work is utterly stunning. Victorian case.

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Victorian label by G W Quatremain of Malvern.

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Victorian Kingfisher by GW Quatremain of Malvern. Very little is known about this very competent Victorian taxidermist.

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Victorian Dabchick by G W Quatremain of Malvern. Many thanks for all the images Jackie from your collection.

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Victorian watercolour of Mallards in a winter scence by G W Quatremain of Malvern.

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Scottish Crossbills by GW Quatremain of Malvern. Whilst not strictly the work of Spicer it has been suggested that he may have worked at the Spicer Yard. The quality of the work is utterly stunning. Victorian case

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Victorian Magpie by GW Quatremain of Malvern. Very little is known about this very competent Victorian taxidermist.





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