Other Restorations
All work here is client commissioned work to either restore the habitat surrounding a piece of taxidermy, recasing a specimen or restoring/cleaning a specimen.
Every piece is bespoke and catered to the clients needs. No habitat restoration, taxidermy restoration/cleaning or recasing is the same.
If there is something you can't find here and want to find out more. Please do not hesitate to email taxtiles.taxidermy@gmail.com
Antler/Skull Restoration
The shields were thoroughly cleaned, old screws and glue removed, and new hangers fitted to the backs. Several shields were restained, while the antlers were also restained and securely reattached using Apoxie Sculpt, with the repairs carefully painted to blend in. The skull caps were brightened using peroxide, leaving the whole collection clean, refreshed and ready to go.
Teddy bear repair
Although my focus is now taxidermy, my background is in textile sculpture, so when a customer contacted me about restoring her beloved childhood teddy, I was happy to help. The 1960s bear had already been unsuccessfully repaired by three soft toy restorers, so I investigated the cause of the deteriorating fabric with advice from fellow taxidermist Jazmine Miles Long. We identified signs of red rot, likely caused by the materials inside the bear reacting with the original fabric. I created a new arm, retained its original moving armature, repaired the damaged areas with conservation-grade materials and secured his loose nose. He’s now looking much happier and now back with the owner.
Butterfly repair and replacement
One of the butterflies on the left of the image has broken away from its mount with damaged wings. I found a replacement butterfly to take its place, re-mounted it, as well as dusted and cleaned the inside and outside of the frame with a little touch work on the finish on the frame itself.
Examples of Skull repair and restorations
I can restore certain skulls and missing bone fragments to show their former glory.
Before and after of restoring an antique crocodile.
A very dusty, faded and cracked tortoise in well need of a complete overhaul. A very large restoration project. This is an antique nile crocodile that needed some well overdue tlc. Crack, faded, broken jaw, missing claws, stitching exposed. The list was exhaustive of the things that needed fixing on this nile crocodile. So I set to work, fixed the jaw, restored missing claws, new eyes, sculpted in the missing parts on the top of the head and other parts too, also covered all the seals where there were signs of the stitching. And of course sculpting in the missing teeth and recolouring them. Then the big task of completely recolouring the crocodile again so it looks more realistic to an actual crocodile. Safe to say he looks much happier and more fierce looking!
Before and after of restoring an antique tortoise
A very dusty, faded and cracked tortoise in well need of a complete overhaul. I gave the fella some eyes to bring more life into him, got rid of all the old stitches that was used to sew him back up when he was preserved. Resculpted the head and covered the lines where it was opened up, airbrushed and recolour him. He definitely looks a lot happier!