Taxidermy.Net Forum - African Lion Taxidermy ... "Old School"

This set of pictures will show what went into creating a mount way, way, way back in the day! The first set shows Dr. James L. Clark, in the early 1930's, working on the African Lions used in what would be their Diorama in the American Museum of Natural History.

This ... is the Lion I used to stare at for hours when I was much younger ... and it was this Lion and all the mounts in these Dioramas that got me interested in Taxidermy!

This is Dr. Clark, with the very same male African Lion he collected for the Lion Diorama.

This is a miniature, sculpted in the field, which would be the catalyst, the brainstorm, for what would become the African Lion Diorama.

While in Africa, background artist William R. Leigh made color paintings and drawings of the area, and the plant life, which would later be used to recreate the murals and the foreground of the Diorama. Remember ... there weren't very many really good cameras to capture good clear reference images with ... nor was their color film! So the eyes of the artists were all that was available to capture these scenes.

Some of the watercolor field sketches of the plants by William R. Leigh used in the Lion Diorama.

Other specialists would collect and preserve plant material, and/or make plaster molds of certain leaves and flowers.

Here is Dr. Clark putting the finishing touches on the full size clay model of his male African Lion. Notice the 1/6 scale Maquette to the left of the photo. These are sculpted to what will be the final pose that is then worked out in full size, using the bones, lumber, and clay. Notice too, that what the Maquette represents is the Lion "in his skin" ... but, without his mane! This give the sculptor clearer understanding of what the big male looks like under all that mane hair!

Here in Dr. Clark's Atelier -- French word for Art Studio -- the entire Lion pride comes together, with the assistance of Gardell Christensen.

This transparency illustrates the clay and it's relation to the final mounted Lion! I know ... it looks downright ghostly!

Here is the entire mounted pride, being test fitted into their nearly finished habitat. It seems the original intent was to have some of the other Lions facing out toward the viewers!

As seen here in the image of the final, finished Diorama, the two Lioness were turned to have their attention focused on a far off herd of Wildebeest that are painted into the background mural. This always made me yearn to see their faces, but made the scene all the more realistic!

Here are our heroes, starting with the big male.

I've always loved this Lioness! The way she was mounted licking her paw is so realistic!

This gal has her gaze focused on her pride mate's grooming habits.

Here is the Lioness that was originally seen in the set up photo, facing out toward the viewer. Now her gaze if fixed on the distant herd of tasty Wildebeest!

Here is a pictorial presentation of Dr. Clark mounting his superb Indian (Asian) Lion.

The first shot is of the assembled skeleton. The Thoracic section is secured to a centerboard, supported by a pipe assembly on a stand. Excelsior fills out the rib cage and belly area, which is then covered with burlap strips that have been dipped in plaster. After hardening, this core is covered with clay and the sculpting begins. Notice the plaster casting of the skull used in the modeling. Also notice the miniature for this Lion and his mate. This gives a 3-dimensional "picture" of the final mount.

Here Dr. Clark sets the bones of the left foreleg for fit and position.

The clay model to this point. Bear in mind, the clay used back then was a water clay ... and not Plastecine!

Dr. Clark applying some finishing touches to his clay model. Notice the plaster casting of the Lion's forequarters in the lower left-hand corner. Many times plaster molds were made in the field of parts of the animal's carcass, including but not limited to the legs, torso, and/or forequarters. These became very valuable additions to the Taxidermists arsenal of reference ammunition!

One of many trial test fittings of the Lion's hide over the clay. Everything had to line up perfectly so there would be no problems later on, before the next step.

A plaster multi-piece mold is made of the clay model. Plaster was a very inexpensive molding medium, and was used exclusively during Taxidermy's Golden Years. Molds were destroyed after the project was completed. Museum's were not supply companies, and they didn't want their exclusive mounts showing up everywhere.

Even though plaster molds were disposable, the were reinforced with steel rebar to keep them from cracking during removal from the clay model and subsequent laying up of the mannikin.

The left half of the plaster mold removed from the clay. As can be seen, the clay model was pretty well destroyed during this step. It didn't matter, as the cleaned clay was returned to the clay bin for the next project!

After having sufficient time to dry and cure, the plaster mold was sealed with shellac, allowed to dry, and the mannikin was built up with strips of wetted, heavy roofing paper dipped in glue, backed with strips of burlap dipped in plaster, and reinforced with what looks like window screening! Very ingenious! The wetted paper and glue would take the finest detail captured in the plaster mold, the plaster and burlap added strength, and the screening rigidity.

The belly mold sections were assembled to their respective side mold sections, after securing the leg rods within the legs of the mannikin. For added strength and reinforcement, wooden "ribs" were secured to the inside of the mannikin. The two completed halves were allowed to dry before being pried from the mold. Notice the plaster mold being broken away in places.

The left and right halves of the mannikin are fitted and assembled ... much like the old ITC Model Animal Kits!

The assembled mannikin is turned upright and secured to it's mounting platform, and prepared for the taxidermist. Tail wires have been installed, and lip slots cut. The mannikin was shellacked prior to mounting the skin to waterproof the layers of paper skin of the mannikin.

Dr. Clark, seen pinning the hide on the Lion's back, and unidentified assistant, form fit the skin to the mannikin. After applying hide paste to the mannikin, the hide is all pinned up and nailed in place, the sewing commences.

Dr. Clark giving some final grooming to his Indian Lion mount. All the details seen in the clay model, are visible through the tanned hide that was glued, and nailed into place. A beautiful example of the Taxidermist's art!

Here is the regal male Indian Lion with his mate in their habitat display case. Although not as elaborate as the Diorama's in Akeley African Hall, or North American Hall, this simple display is a beautiful example of the work of all the artist's involved ... in this case the Taxidermist, Mold Maker/Form Builder, and Foreground Artist. Beautiful!

Here is another shot of the Indian Lion mount on exhibit.

I hope you enjoyed this presentation of how high-end Taxidermy was prepared in the "Golden Years", and can appreciate where all this came from. And to our younger members ... remember, ALL Mannikins were and are begun this way. Molding and casting techniques have changed, but they all start out the same way!

John.