Taxidermy undertaken by Sheals of Belfast

Abstract

The Sheals taxidermy business in Belfast became famous for the quality of their work. Three of their order books survive, recording jobs done for named customers from January 1897 to December 1911, and January 1919 to January 1920 inclusive. Such records are extremely scarce as few taxidermists appear to have kept any regular paperwork until recent times, and little information has survived about such businesses from the heyday of commercial taxidermy. This paper reviews the types of taxidermy undertaken, species handled and the customer base for what became one of the leading taxidermists in Ireland, with an international reputation.