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Click
here for the full size of the above image.
Two years
sculpting foam and clay. Weeks casting heads and hands,
toes and tongues. Thousands upon thousands of tiny stitches.
These tasks and many more transformed 274 mammal specimens
into the inspiring display now on view in the new mammal
hall on the first floor of the Museum.
Led by John
Matthews, the award-winning taxidermy team renovated
historic specimens and mounted specimens donated by
zoos and research facilities from around the world.
Each animal reflects the collaboration of museum curators,
exhibit designers, and taxidermists to determine an
accurate and aesthetic pose.
The taxidermy team (left to right):
Paul Rhymer, John Matthews, Ken Walker, Walter Sorrell,
and Glenn Rankin.
Photo
by Carl Hansen |
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Each
body part is carved from foam based on measurements
taken from the carcass. The parts are fitted together
and then packed with clay and plastic to create a lifelike
body shape that fits the skin.
Photo by Paul Rhymer |
Wrangling
the Orangutan
Because primates are rarely mounted and commercially
available forms did not suit the required pose, the
team needed to build the entire supporting forms themselves—a
huge collaborative effort that resulted in one of the
most striking specimens in the hall.
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The
tanned skin is tested several times on the form to be
sure it fits perfectly.
Photo by Paul Rhymer |
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A
plaster death mask recorded the distinctive facial features
of the orangutan.
Photo by Heather Rostker
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Sculpting
this clay maquette helped the team envision the pose
in 3-D and plan the life-size model.
Photo by Heather Rostker |
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To
capture the unique face of this orangutan, taxidermists
built the facial structure with clay, using the death
mask and other measurements as references.
Photo by Paul Rhymer |
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After
days of prepping the hair, the orangutan is finally
finished. Look for it in the “Primates”
case, towards the back of the hall.
Photo by Paul Rhymer |
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Photo
by Heather Rostker
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The
Supporting Cast
The secret to a lifelike mount is in finding just the
right supporting structure and parts—from the
perfect eyeball to an accurate head shape. This selection
of commercially available glass and plastic eyes, ears,
and tongues and plaster death casts of mammal features
represent some of the products and processes that the
taxidermists used to create the mounts.
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See more mammals in the Kenneth
E. Behring Family Hall of Mammals.
To
learn more about Science and Collections visit the following
websites:
NMNH
Division of Mammals
Mammals Species
of the World Database
NMNH North American
Mammals
Past
Science News exhibits
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