REPORTAGE. Taxidermy: in Paris, the Deyrolle house reveals its animal curiosities
By Living Samuel
Published on
“Sometimes I feel seen,” laughs Yves Ceretti, behind his workbench, surrounded by the gaze of glasses animals from five continents. Since 1831, the house Deyrolle serves as Noah’s ark, right in the heart of Paris, in the 7th arrondissement. Thanks to the taxidermyit’s a whole section of animal heritage that is revealed behind the wooded front of the cabinet of curiosities.
Rare pieces over 30,000 euros
There are no mysterious or esoteric objects here, nature is – in essence – curious. Behind a window, a lion cub arches on its front legs, ears folded down and mischievous gaze, as if ready to pounce. Longer, a rabbit with wide pupils marks time, on the lookout for a long-gone danger. And yet: Deyrolle’s plays seem, oddly, living.
“It’s all in the eyes, breathes Yves, thin mustache and nose as long as a beak. Originally, taxidermy gave birth to animals in threatening positions, which were not always realistic. Since then, the approach has been closer to naturalism »explains the man who repairs pieces from Deyrolle – and private individuals – whose values sometimes exceed the 30,000 euros.
Taxidermy, or indoor sculpture“, as Yves prefers to call it, a well-evolved. No more stuffing, now the animals are reconstituted by an iron frame around which the body is shaped using wood fiber.
And like “We don’t repair an animal like a broken plate”, according to the good word of this taxidermist, the reconstitution of animal expressions is the subject of a detailed analysis with the help of documentaries, visits to parks and travels.
Here, animals of non-domestic species dragged from zoos, parks or farms in which they died of old age or disease. Protected species are held and delivered in compliance with the Washington Convention (CITES).
Because once past the row of bears, tigers and other red pandas, another room, dedicated to entomology, is full of rare insects. Several thousands beetles, butterflies or spiders are displayed for all to see. Next to a regiment of crucified beetles of round-headed pins, Ameline, professional spreadercarefully put a butterfly on its drying rack.
“You have to spread its wings very gently, but as much as possible,” she explains, leaning over her crystal paper. At the slightest misstep, we can damage their scales. This is essential because we identify the species of butterflies thanks to the patterns and details of their wings”. A work of goldsmith for this small specimen which – failing to find a buyer – perhaps joins the drawers of the Deyrolle collection.
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