Prices are for birds mounted on a simple base with basic decoration.
Prices do not include the following:
• Habitat work, artistic driftwood, Polished hardwood bases, plinths, glass cases, inscriptions.
• Extra work on bad or damaged specimens, unusually large specimens.
• Action, flying or dynamic poses.
• Packing, packaging, carriage, delivery, collection.
• Any license applications and other admin.
• Prices here are as a guide only and are subject to change.
• Email us with your full details and precise requirements for an accurate estimate.
FREE STANDING, ALL GLASS, CASES.
• A nicely modelled bird mount is very delicate and very easily spoiled simply by touching it.
• All good bird taxidermy will last indefinitely, if it is cased.
• We recommend a glass case, particularly for Owls raptors and small birds, as they can be ruined very easily.
• Owls birds of prey or other delicate birds. Some ducks and game birds can be more robust and do not need cases
if cared for.
Our bespoke glass cases
• All our Glass cases are bespoke made, by us, in our studio.
• Glass: We only use process toughened and stamped 4mm clear float annealed glass (safety glass)
• Larger cases are in 6mm toughened.
• Joints are bonded in clear Epoxy Resin
• Bases and frames are in solid oak. (stained and finished as per client requirements)
• They are superior in build quality, and are far safer in a domestic situation.
• They can be placed used on public or commercial display.
• We do not use the inferior and cheap 2mm plate glass in our cases because they are structurally inferior and not
safe in a domestic situation.
• 2mm plate glass cannot be used for public or commercial work or display
Costs here for basic mount plain stance. Open mouths, action poses are additional
These prices are as a guide and are subject to change. Always email us for accurate estimates of costs.
The following may be additional to the basic cost of the mount itself
• Licences, applications, paperwork, Article 10`s and any time consuming none taxidermy work.
• Extra time spent in consultation.
• Delivery and collection.
• Wooden shields, bases, pedestals
• Habitat settings, rock work, large pedestals, open mouthed mounts
• Custom sculpted forms, substantial form alterations or action poses.
• Open mouthed mounts require jaw sets to be made or bought and substantial extra work .
• Inscriptions
• Floor pedestals.
• Planning and consultation on larger or bespoke project work
• Any steel frame and plate welding
• Joinery on multiple or large mounts
• Crates, Crating, packing, administration of import/export paperwork
• Handling and storage of large mounts
• Large mounts require substantial space and effort to handle sort and store. We reserve the right to make charges
for handling and storage where applicable.
We specialise in advanced, high quality skin mount fish taxidermy, using our own unique method for producing fish mounts. We can also produce unique skin mounts in a double sided 360° presentation to be viewed from any side. Please contact us about costs for these types of mount and see exmples in the fish gallleries of our site.
We can also produce resin based replicas, to any degree of complexity and in the finest anatomical detail.
Painting fish is an art in itself and requires a detailed, accurate and faithful portrayal of the original fish. In most species, this involves taking detailed reference photos and then hand painting every indivual scale, at least twice, and applying multiple layers of subtle tones to create the look of a particular fish which is faithfull to its original markings.
We charge by the inch for most fish work, with a minimum charge below a certain size for very small fish.
Bow fronted (and other case designs), plinths, wall panels, habitat settings, inscriptions etc, are a separate component of the work and are charged for accordingly.
Prices given in the tables below are as guide only, they are not a quote. Actual costs are based on a consultation and a detailed specification for an individual fish. Always email us with your full details and exact requirements.
With very small fish (like a goldfish) the time taken to mount a fish is not proportionate to its size.
Production of a small fish is very exacting, detailed and very time consuming, consequently a very small fish can cost as much as a far bigger one.
Click on the "view prices" tab below for a guide to costs.
Our bow-fronted cases are designed and constructed to our own design and specification, developed over 20 years. Though our exact design is now being copied.
Bow front case specification.
Cases are glazed in 4 – 6mm clear bowed annealed glass with glazed side panels.
All joints screwed and glued.
Glass is held with mitre fitted wooden moulding individually cut to fit.
Casement is stained to your requirements and lacquered.
Background of the case is painted in a montage of colours, sympathetic to the subtle colouring of the fish.
The habitat is to mimic that of the water in which the fish was caught. Usually gravel river bed and very minimal weed.
Basic standard shoulder mount price guide.
These prices are as a guide only and are subject to change.
Always email us for accurate estimates of costs.
The following are additional to the basic cost of the mount.
If you require an estimate for any safari work please email us with your full details and a detailed list of your animal(s) along with specifications for the mounts.
We do not any longer list costs for our African work, or give over the phone estimates. There are several issues which have led to this decision.
Lead times – it can take up to 12 months to ship skins here.
Exchange rates, tannery costs and form costs.
Some services and materials are sourced in Europe. Rates have been fluctuating and we are not prepared to soak up the difference until rates stabilise long term.
Skins from the African continent have always been something of an “unknown” in terms of their condition on arrival because we cannot assess dry salted (dip and ship) hides until they are with us and, in some cases, have been tanned.
Unfortunately over the last five years we have seen the quality of these skins become increasingly poor from some sources. We have to spend more of our time in repairing and saving skins that are needlessly ruined by incompetence, procrastination or negligence of responsibility by others in the chain who are not doing their job to an acceptable standard. I am not the only taxidermist to notice this worsening problem.
Field prep of your skins is what you as the client have paid for and a well skinned cape, properly cleaned of flesh, washed. salted, dried and stored in dry conditions is a basic, minimum requirement to produce a good quality mount. If it is not done properly you will have to pay again for these problems to be sorted out as they are not of your taxidermists making.
The problems include:
• Rushed and or unskilled skinning causing epidermal skin slip. Particularly on ears, eyelids, lips, feet hooves.
• Pests (insects) attacking the skins in storage and eating/destroying portions of them.
• Not de fleshing removing fat and washing skins. Causing them “fat rot”
• Stale, bad quality salt and bad storage causing skins to slip/rot and ruin.
• Storage – all of the above can be done to the top standard but just a few days of bad storage can ruin a skin.
We will now be charging for the extra time we must spend on repairing and recovering these skins which have been spoiled.
The client will be sent photos and a full report of the exact issues and the charges to sort out the mess.
IMPOTRTANT NOTES
The following are additional to the base cost of the mount itself
Skins sent from Africa often present with many issues, taking time and work to sort out. Costs above are based on dry salted skins, taking a good tan, with no major problems or repairs needed. Skins with problems will be notified and charged according to the amount of work required to remedy the issue. (see terms for details on this)