Stuffed Animals: A Modern Guide to Taxidermy

by Divya Anantharaman, Katie Innamorato

A quirky, timely, and disturbingly beautiful how-to taxidermy guide, emphasizing ethical sourcing and personal expression Whether inspiration came from an exhibition at an edgy art gallery, a visit to the Natural History Museum, or the sight of your crazy uncle’s jackalope, more and more people are opening up to the fun and wonder of taxidermy. A mix of art, science, and a touch of alchemy, taxidermy lets you engage with the natural world in ways most other people don’t. In Stuffed Animals , Divya Anantharaman and Katie Innamorato demystify the practice, shatter the gross stereotypes, and make taxidermy accessible to anyone, anywhere. Committed to ethical and sustainable sourcing, Anantharaman and Innamorato are part of the vanguard of young taxidermists who bring a sense of fun and experimentation to this old-school hobby. In their sold-out classes in Brooklyn, they teach hundreds of taxidermy novices how to create mantle-worthy pieces out of small birds and mammals. Both a helpful how-to manual and a strangely captivating gift book, Stuffed Animals  is the definitive guide to a growing movement. 100+ color photographs

256 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2016

Reviews

[Emily W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fair warning: I was expecting this to be more of a general guide to modern trends in taxidermy, but it is a...vivid...how-to guide. So keep that in mind before you pick it up at bedtime. Like I did. Sweet dreams of skinless mousies...

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Taxidermy came about as a practical way to communicate and to prove the existence of various animals across the world” (185).

[Matthew Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic introduction to taxidermy for beginners that covers a wide variety of topics including skinning, tanning, mounting, mould making and casting, rouge taxidermy, cleaning bones and even cooking the meat! A book I would recommend heartily to anyone wanting to try out taxidermy.

The book is modern, full of colour photos and well written. My only critique is that I wish the photos were a bit clearer as they seem overly dark on some pages. Also some techniques are only glossed over and can be brief, so I would require further research online for the reader. It does a great job breaking down the jargon of the taxidermy world though!

But this is an incredible book for the wannabe taxidermist, I only wish it had come out when I started a decade ago!

[M Aghazarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide for beginners--provides an overview of many topics (mounts, tanning, bone cleaning, even recipes) and detailed instructions for several projects. Really playful and positive tone, highly recommend

[December · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good first overview over some techniques and materials, with detailed pictures and a very nice design. It is, however, no replacement for an actual human instructor. There are many details and tricks one must pay attention to that are not mentioned in this book. Would still recommend it as a brief introduction for everyone interested in taxidermy.

[Cindy Marcelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun, approachable, and informative. Have read multiple times and will use as a resource in the future.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this for Josh. However, I flipped through it, and that was enough for me. The pictures in the guides are very graphic (didn't bother me in a squeamish or scary way). Some taxidermy I'm fine with, but I do not tolerate tons of bucks, safari animals, and any animals killed for "sport." I found the book disgusting in that aspect. That's a personal preference of mine. If you like to hunt, power to you, I just don't like glorifying majestic animals in that way. The book did a great job in guiding the reader along on how to preserve an animal. I think this book would be great for someone who wants to learn the trade, do their own, or for someone (like Josh) who thinks Taxidermy is cool. It's just not my thing.