Erin Hollis chose….

Perch

I chose this mounted fish for a couple of reasons. First, I'm a sucker for museum dioramas! Although this fish wasn't originally created for museum display, it has that wonderful 'microcosm' quality to it. Looking into the case gives the viewer a snapshot of underwater life.

Second, taxidermy fish remind me of being at my grandparents' house when I was little. In his younger days, my grandfather was an avid saltwater fisherman, fishing in the Florida Keys and catching large sport fish. Some of his prize catches (including a 6 foot tarpon!) ended up hanging in their house. Obviously, this perch was one of Wally Barnes' prized catches too!

Erin Hollis is Herbert 2.0 Project Assistant at the Herbert

What the curator says:

Perch

This perch was caught in 1948 at Boddington, Northamptonshire by Wally Barnes.

It was stuffed by the well known taxidermist Peter Spicer and Sons of Leamington Spa. Spicer's produced cases of exceptional quality from 1798 until the 1960s.

Their cases are known for the use of wooden beading and high quality painted background and diorama.

Fish are among the most difficult taxidermy subjects. A fish's skin loses most of its colour as it dries. Therefore the whole mount needs to be painted by the taxidermist to make the fish lifelike. An added problem with fish is that some are too greasy for the skin or skull to be used. In this case a cast of the fish is made.