Walter Lowne was in business in Yarmouth from the 1870s until around 1913. As a young man, he lived next door to A. H. Patterson, who lent him a book on taxidermy. He was apprenticed to the carpentry trade upon leaving school, and practised taxidermy on only a part-time basis initially. He eventually gave up carpentry in favour of taxidermy, and took over the tenancy of a shop on Fuller's Hill which had previously been occupied by a gamedealer named Durrant.
In 1891 a seven ton whale was killed near great yarmouth and taken to Lowne for preservation. The fee was 30 pounds. The finished product was exhibited in Norwich, London and Lowestoft, ending its days as one of Yarmouth's summer attractions.
We have bought major collections from museums and private collectors.
Offer your items here.
Taxidermy law can be complicated.
We make it our business to know the laws surrounding the trade, keeping up to date with changes in current legislation so you can buy in confidence.
The House of Taxidermy does not source modern taxidermy specimens that have been killed for the purpose of taxidermy. Our modern taxidermy is mainly roadkill and catkill as these are sadly the top two threats to British wildlife. We also get animals that have died of old age, largely from zoos and falconers.
Antique pieces for us are another matter. Although some of these old specimens were hunted, we see no harm in trading them today.
Destroying them will not bring the animal back.
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