Frequently Asked Questions
Parcels that can be sent by post are sent via Myparcel. Myparcel informs you by email when your delivery will be.
Parcels smaller than 50 x 50 x100 cm cost € 12.50 within the Netherlands and € 20.00 for Belgium.
Shipping costs for larger parcels and parcels abroad are always calculated according to the size of the parcel.
When purchasing larger orders, delivery may be free of charge. This is always in consultation.
We aim to send our parcels within 2 days. Provided the items ordered are in stock.
All items are packed with the utmost care so that they cannot be damaged. However, shipping remains at your own risk.
Some items (for example: antique domes with butterflies) are very fragile to ship. Pickup, shipping on a pallet or by courier is possible. The cost of shipping depends on the distance. This will of course always be discussed in advance.
We put many photos on our website so that you can see what you get when you order through our website. If you are still not satisfied, you can return your article. Unfortunately, we cannot refund these costs. Please make sure you pack it well. We cannot take back damaged returned items.
2) What is taxidermy?
Source Wikipedia
Taxidermy deals with the preparation or stuffing of animals. To prepare is to process the dead body of an animal so that it is preserved. Someone who does this is called a preparator. There are various techniques for preserving so-called zoological specimens.
Taxidermy is a compound of the Greek words τάξις (taxis) arrangement and δέρμα (derma) skin.
Mounting:
Mounting (or complete mounting) is a conservation technique for preserving a dead animal, where the shape of the body is preserved true to nature and the result can be exhibited. To do this, the animal is skinned and the skin is tanned and/or treated with preservatives such as borax or alcohol to prevent decay. The skin is then attached to a custom-made artificial body. This artificial body has the same shape as the real body. Certain body parts are replaced by artificial copies, such as the eyes. Sometimes some bones, such as the skull and legs, are cleaned and used in the artificial body.
Bellows
Bellows is a cheaper technique often used to preserve an animal body for research. In this process, only the skin and skull are preserved and the original shape is largely lost.
Preparation with arsenic
In taxidermy, arsenic used to protect prepared specimens from insects such as moths, the bacon beetle and the museum beetle.
Rather than keeping insects away, the application was aimed at killing them before they could continue their destructive work.
Due to its high toxicity, it is almost no longer used by taxidermists. There are now products on the market that are at least as effective, without the risks of arsenic.
So all our animals are very well treated against insects. It can always happen that a moth or other insect does turn up in your preparation. Think, for example, of moths in woollen clothing. It remains your own responsibility to keep an eye on this and if problems occur, you can always contact us and we will find a suitable solution for you.
3) Where do our animals come from and where do they go?
Almost all our animals come from zoos and animal parks. If necessary, these animals are provided with the correct (cites) documents. Lions, tigers, Cheetahs, leopards, wolves, lynxes and bears all come from zoos. Our birds of prey all come from falconers where the birds have died. A proof of purchase (invoice) is often sufficient to prove the legal origin of other species.
However, there are also animals that come from the wild but have been obtained legally. These include red deer, fallow deer, roe deer and wild boar. The meat of these animals is used for consumption and the skin and antlers are used to make a nice preparation.
Our customers include many private enthusiasts who would like to have a beautiful stuffed animal in their interior. Interior designers, collectors, hotels and restaurants and interior design shops.
4) Maintenance?
All our animals are very well treated against insects. It can always happen that a moth or other insect does pop up in your animal. Think for example of moths in woolen clothing.
Check your animals regularly for feeding. This can be recognized for example by small cocoons or dust under the animal.
It remains your own responsibility to keep an eye on this and if problems occur you can always contact us for advice.
To prevent this we advise keeping birds and mammals dust free with for example a feather duster. Injecting with an insect spray is also possible but make sure you keep enough distance to avoid staining the specimen.
Always hang or place your specimen in a dry area but not in direct sunlight. This is to prevent discoloration.