Nature Whispers...

Once upon a time, man tred carefully in Earth’s ancient forests. Hunters felt a powerful arcane connection to the Divine while in the forest and were intuitvely aware of it’s sacredness. They also realized the woodlands provided a sanctuary for the animals, trees and plants that sustained them in life, so they treated the land with reverence and respect. After leaving the forests, hunters suffered the loss of connection to the enchanted forest world and sought to bring this magic home with them. They crafted objects and jewelry from the wood, gems, animals they obtained while hunting. These 'hunting trophies' were displayed in the home as mementos.



They crafted amulets and talismans to adorn themselves with. They honored the sanctity of animal’s spirit, therefore the spirit of the animal retained it’s dignity in death. The pendants were regarded as supernatural objects and each piece was endowed with a special mystical power: to protect, to ward off sickness, strengthen the body, and keep away evil spirits. I just added these to My Etsy Shop! The toothy one has already been purchased and will be displayed at The Museum of Witchcraft in Switzerland!



It is not a coincidence that early explorations of the unconscious were undertaken in the vicinity of Earth’s ancient forests. Fables, folklore, and fairytales throughout the world have been handed down orally and eventually written about enchanted forests. The mythologies are always the same, only the cultural landscapes differ. Perhaps the most famous collection of folktales in our lives, is that of the Brothers Grimm, inspired by the valleys and wooded heights of the legendary Black Forest.



Our society is suffering from the loss of connection to nature. It is the mission of Beloved & Co. to awaken that connection and to remind people that we are part of nature, not separate from it. My Black Forest Relic Collection is a kind of Memento Mori to remind people about our current deforestation crisis: the tragic loss of the world’s sacred forest sanctuaries and the plants and animals it protects. The word "relic" denotes a supernatural object (usually a bone or other such) venerated because of association with a saint or martyr. Black Forest Relics are infused with the magic of the forest, the mythologies of the animal and a sense of imminent mourning...each one sacred in it's own right. I’ve decided to donate a portion of the profits made from the sales of my Black Forest Relics to an organization dedicated to defending wildlife. Originally I was going to donate to the World Wildlife Fund...but they said: "Please note that to communicate that you are making a donation to us based on sales, we require a licensing agreement. This entails a minimum annual guaranteed donation of $25,000 and registration as a commercial coventurer in four states. At this time we are not interested in a licensing agreement due to conflicting efforts with another jewelry line which is exclusive." So I'm looking into smaller grassroots efforts...any suggestions?



I've been feeling a deep obligation to give back to Mother Nature lately. I was the first seller on etsy to sell taxidermy jewelry and now it seems we have a trend on our hands. Within months of offering my handmade and vintage/antique taxidermy jewelry another seller began creating grotesque reproductions of the jewelry I was selling. For those of you who have been reading my blog for a while, you might remember me ranting about it. Soon to follow, yet another seller opened a shop offering even more discusting knock-offs of the aforementioned seller...offering jewelry made exclusively from dead squirrels. And now, another seller has opened up a shop solely offering the same kind of antique jewelry I sell.

The problem is not that I now have “competition” or that they may have taken inspiration from my shop or other lines of taxidermy jewelry currently being offered in the marketplace. (Although I do find it extremly bothersome that these greedy opportunists sought out a way to bank on someone else ideas.) The problem is these grotesque reproductions and even the antique peices, are being offered with no regard to the sanctity of the animal used in the creation of the jewelry. One seller has chosen a rusty meat cleaver as the shop’s icon. Pointing not to the sanctity of the animal, but to the violent death the animals experienced. I find the objectification of the animal macabre, blatantly exploiting the death of animals for profit...the animal spirit loses it's dignity in this context. The sacred is completly absent and this drives my point home, our society is suffering from the loss of connection to nature! Alex Grey's painting "Gaia" shows two opposing facets of earthly existence separated by the Tree of Life. On the side representing life out of balance our visionary artist chooses to represent the decadence of humanity through the smoggy skyline of Manhattan Island.



It seems history is repeating itself...the Victorians also felt, in the move from rural to city living, the loss of connection to the natural world and sought to connect with it through collecting taxidermy and other natural objects. The trend was popular within high society and so it became a symbol of status. To meet the demands of the trend, the marketplace for taxidermy grew. This drove the prices down making taxidermy and other natural objects affordable to the middle class. No other society has had such a smothering love as the Victorians had for the natural world. Everywhere was evidence of their fascination with the wild and exotic and their desire to possess it. From the great zoos that were opening around the country, to Natural History museums, and the conservatories that housed their rainforest plants. “Perhaps the ultimate realization of that controlling love for nature was in the art of taxidermy. Here a wild and beautiful creature could truly be possesed- it could become an object: wild but touchable, beautiful and captured.”



The Victorians in their lust for the beauty of nature did not forsee the devastating effects it would have on natural world. The taxidermy business was booming and it wasn’t slowing down. As taxidermy in the home became commonplace, the demand for more exotic tropies grew. And with this, a new trend emerged...the whimsical and bizarre world of Anthropomorphic Taxidermy and sideshow gaphs. Noteworthy taxidermy artists such as Herman Ploucquet, Walter Potter and Edward Hart inspired the work of Dr. Peter Hughes. Hugh's revealed an even darker side of man's malady. He had a number of wealthy admirers of his work who were willing to pay handsomely for various 'special' tableaux to be constructed to their particular specifications. For example: Twelve scenes from the works of children's author Beatrix Potter, constructed for a Mr. Hertz of Iowa, which depicted the author's familiar squirrels and bunny rabbits being 'imaginatively' abused by foxes and cats. And another series of dioramas inspired by De Sade's 'Juliette' in which the unfortunate heroine is represented by a tabby cat and her tormentors by sadistic rabbits, constructed for Lord Bangor. At the time of his death he was working on a commission depicting to recreate in detail various key scenes from De Sade's seminal '120 Days of Sodom'.



Since the Industrial Revolution, man and his machines have waged an official war on Mother Nature. "Civilized" man has become an enemy to the natural world. Not even 10 years ago, there seemed to be hope of an end to it. The wholesale slaughter of animals for museums, art objects, and fashion was not only undesirable, it was offensive. Remember all the “Fur is Dead” campaigns? Models refused to wear fur on the runway stating “I’d rather be naked than wear fur”. But things have changed, and we are seeing the trends return. Some of the same models promote and wear fur these days. How soon we forget! Don't get me wrong, I eat meat...I love feathers, fur, and bones...I own taxidermy! What I'm saying is, we need to make conscious choices. Choose sustainably produced meat, eggs and dairy! When buying other animal products, buy vintage/antique and when buying new...make sure it's from an from ethical source! We need to be aware about the impact overconsumption is having on our bodies and the environment. (Read This)

Angela Singer

Angela Singer...Artist, Animal Activist, Goddess! She uses her taxidermy art as a platform to voice her concerns regarding the relationship between Humans and Nature. Particularly the unnecessary violence humans subject animals too, as well as the notion that people are inherently separate from and superior to other species. Some of her work is rather macabre and reflects the helpless and docile nature of the hunted, exaggerates the blatant violence and cruelty of the killing. For example, a rabbit she altered was used in an antivivisection campaign she worked on with an animal rights group "Animal Liberation Victoria" Australia. And the mounted deer trophy where she embellished the bullet wounds in the animal’s skin, which previously had been carefully diminished by the original taxidermist. Her subjects are then properly lamented with decorations of gemstones, jewelry, and funeral flowers.



"New Zealand artist Angela Singer explores the atavistic notion of the hunt, and its trophies. Like some women’s taste for fur, the hunt represents a regressive desire to reconnect with the instinctual animal self, particularly as a means to release repressed notions of conventional gender roles, in this case, man as primordial hunter. Singer uses taxidermy to present the pathetic (and actually quite bathetic) results of these primitive urges which, apart from what they imply for the animal, are so out of pace with contemporary notions of decorum, representing instead a striving for instinctual authenticity that approaches kitsch. Singer’s animal trophies evince an almost unbearable sense of realism..Contemporary mythologies of the animal are somehow fused with this sense of imminent mourning, along with a renewed curiosity in animal alterity.”

Idiots: industrial evolution

My friend Maïssa sent me the link to the artist duo known as Idiots. I'm totally at a loss for words...this kind of work invokes so many emotions all at once. The 'Idiots' have taken the taxidermy arts to a whole new level! They incorporate ceramics, handblown glass, forged metal, decorative embroidery, intricate bead work, ect...incredible! Just go check out their amazing site! Also, I've added a Wunderkammer section on the left, with links to art inspired by Cabinets of Curiosity and Wunderkammer!







*All animals used are from recycled taxidermy, found or donated. No animals are killed for use in their work.

Copied to Death

Recently, a great article about taxidermy jewelry and accessories was posted on the Coilhouse Blog. The article featured three amazing, praise worthy artists: Disce Mori, Custom Creature Taxidermy, and Purevile. All of whom I love!!! The comment forum that followed was a positive dialog between people that I respect and admire like Jessica Joslin, Suzanne of Wurtzeltod...In that forum another designer, "Loved to Death" was highly recommended. Just then my blood began to boil and I followed up with a very emotional but Not Unwarranted Response. I'd like to take the opportunity to apologize AGAIN to Zoetica and the Coilhouse staff, and any of those offended. It wasn't my intention to dirty the otherwise positive comment forum. Looking back, I realize it was inappropriate to air my grievences torward Loved to Death in that Forum.

However, this is NOT an apology to Loved to Death. And I'd actually like to take a moment to clearly explain my views and opinions about this matter. I opened my shop on Etsy about a year ago. It was a way to test the marketplace before I actually launch my website. Little did I know how many wonderful friends I'd make! It's been a very rewarding experience. I work very hard to offer items that are unique to my shop and to Etsy, whether they are handmade or antiques. Perhaps then, you might understand why I was upset when another shop opened on Etsy offering items so similar to my own. When Loved to Death opened their shop (April 2008) with their Taxidermy Mice Dioramas, I was excited at first to see what else they would be offering. I had long since been coveting the Taxidermy Mice Dioramas of Jeanie M for D.L. & Co. Now Jeanie M. wasn't the first to display taxidermy in this manner, but inspired by 16th-19th centuries, Victorian grotesque and anthropomorphic taxidermy art. Jeanie WAS however the FIRST person revision the anthropomorphic mice of Walter Potter and succesfully bring these Modern Interpretations to the marketplace. Douglas Little offered them to the mainstream through his Gothic Couture design house D.L. & Co, which at the time was being sold exclusively at Barney's NYC.

Meanwhile, in my own shop I had successsfully sold several Vintage Grouse Claw Brooches. I'm a huge fan of taxidermy jewelry that adorned traditional costumes of cultures across the globe. Being a student and Teacher of the Occult Sciences I'm particularly interested in the Supernatural powers that these talismans allegedly possess. I have worked with Chicken feet for many many years, creating Voodoo inspired protection amulets. When I came across a dead Crow for the first time I didn't think twice about pulling several tail feathers from it. As you know, I ended up making jewelry with the feet. (I live across the from a large city park. Humboldt Park is a sanctuary to many species of plants, birds and animals...complete with a lagoon.) I was very excited to offer my Crow Amulets in my Etsy shop. Each one sold immediatly...and I was sent many requests of when I'd have more! Since the feet I used were found...I had no idea when more would become available to me. At that time Loved to Death saved me in their favorites. This was in May...less than one month later, Loved to Death launched their Taxidermy accessories line (June 2008) with two items. Below you can see my jewelry pictured on the left and theirs on the right.




I was flooded with a myriad of emotions...the designs were so similar and no other seller on Etsy was offering Taxidermy jewelry. Shortly after that, I recieved a Myspace friend request from them with a backhanded compliment on my bird foot design. I politely accepted their "friend request" but honestly exspressed my concern about the items they were selling, admitting I was quite disheartened at first by the fact that they were creating items unique to my shop and to Etsy. I also said that I had since gotten over it and I wished them good luck in their endeavors in spite of the way I was feeling. However, I was still suspicous of their motives...I knew they were just being friendly because they wanted to tap into my social network and use my comment section as AD space. Moving on to August, I went about business as usual... I was excited to introduce my Black Forest Relic Collections to my shop. I listed an antique ornamental medal meant to be worn on the coat, AGAIN...less than a month later on Sep 6th to be exact they recreated a similar design and added it to their own collection. Also in August, I listed an AMAZING antique hunting charm...a partial skull with little teeth and fangs. It was part of a set I offered. I was really excited to have it available...a unique treasure from 1870's! And AGAIN, Loved to Death quickly sourced out the materials, recreated the piece and added it to their "signature" collection...again this was less than one month later!!!! See pics below...LTD's knock offs shown on the right.





The similarities are uncanny, don't you think? Again LTD recreated these items in less than 1 month's time and added them to their collection. I was furious...at this point! I disregarded any thoughts of this all being coincidental. I immediatly attempted to contact my "friends" on MySpace. But alas, the cowards had already deleted me...I sent them a message anyway, confronting them about the issue. That didn't go very well to say the least...they went on to offer a hoof pendant. I've sold various antique hoofs successfully in my shops. Again, here's a pic to illustrate my point.



During all of this I met an Amazing Designer who's couture taxidermy jewelry line is in it's 4th season. It's being sold in the most prestigious curiosity shops such as Urban Flower and Gold Bug. She's a great person and has worked very hard for recognition in our community and the marketplace. As it turns out, much of their line is knocked-off from her original designs including their bio which was copied almost verbatim from her old website! She was grief stricken about the whole thing. She said she'd prefer that her business name not be mentioned in the same sentence as Loved to Death, so I will leave her name out of this blog, respectively.

I thought however, this situation should be aired out publicly because they might copy YOU next...they have no shame! They have already ripped off soo many. Out of all of these artists, including myself, not one claims the ideas to be their own. Everyone sites the Victorian era, Cabinets of Curiosity, Wunderkammer, Circus Sideshows, ect... as sources of inspiration. All of these people work hard to bring fresh ideas to the modern marketplace. Julia deVille for example has her signature mouse trophy pin. She was the first to bring this idea forth into the modern marketplace...it's one of her signature pieces. It's an awesome idea! I could easily copy this design...or those of other artists. I could easily source out jewelry findings and mice and mass produce the design my own. But I don't do this out of respect for other people's hard work. Loved to Death doesn't care though! Check out their cheap knock off on the right...and they have the nerve to make statements like "This is truly one of a kind piece" or "This is a very unique detailed piece from Loved To Death" They are trying to bank on and brand other people's ideas. I also spoke to Julia who was already aware of the matter and she is pissed!



I know this happens in business all the time...but as I explained to Loved to Death "This is not Starbuck's vs. Seattle's Best or McDonald's vs. Burger King were talking about here....this is a small community of artists...have some respect!" Which brings me to my next point...they have no respect for their customers either.

They state "All animal parts in our jewelry and accessories line come from recycled sources and have all been professionally preserved.No animal has EVER been killed for use in our work." Recycled, really? No, the fact of the matter is that the animals and birds they use are bred in captivity for the sole purpose of being sold to human consumers…labs, pet stores, ect. The ones that don’t make it are skinned or freeze dried and sold as curios to places like Necromance, the Bone Room, or the many online sources. And that's just fine... but I wouldn’t sell such items to my customers and then state “No animal has EVER been killed for use in our work” That's downright misleading! People who deeply take to heart the welfare of animals would not want to purchase their jewelry if they knew the TRUTH. People who who are concerned with the ethics of animals are careful consumers who take all facts into consideration before consuming products in the marketplace...by not stating the facts you are not allowing them to make a decision based on truth, and that in my opinion is a violation of consumer rights!

So there it is...I won't be speaking of this matter again. So for all the questions I got regarding my statement on the Coilhouse blog forum, I think this about covers it!

Lisa Black

Here's a creepy curiosity I stumbled upon recently! A wind-up taxidermy alligator "fixed" by Lisa Black. If you like the alligator, wait till you see what she did to Bambi! eeek!

Black Forest Relics

I have added some new Black Forest Hunting Relics (Antique-Circa 1875) to my Etsy shop! I nearly doubled over when I found these at an Estate Sale this weekend! I also got a beautiful Victorian tufted red velvet loveseat...lucky me!

Exquisite Corpses

Polly Morgan is a Taxidermist based in the UK. She has done commissions for the likes of Kate Moss and counts Jude Law as a collector and friend. All taxidermied animals are either road casualties or were donated to her by pet owners and vets after natural or unpreventable deaths.

DEYROLLE

Deyrolle, the amazing cabinet of curiosities boutique in the heart of Paris sadly suffered a major fire on February 1st, 2008. The fire ravaged about 80% of the a 170-year old establishment's natural history collection. The insects and butterflies were the worse hit, and Deyrolle is currently seeking an entomology vendor to help replace the collection. Read all about the fire, the store's resurrection efforts, and all the posted letters of sympathy on Deyrolle's blogsite. Gerard Depardieu is quoted: "there are no words - it's very violent. The fire is rich in symbol, it is perhaps a sign of a renaissance."

WICKED SWANK

My friend Robyn Von Swank is coming to stay with me for a week here in Chicago! I'm super excited! She's an amazing photographer and assemblage artist. She's going to shoot my products and we'll also work on a few theme oriented photo projects that will support the products and services of BELOVED & CO. I'm going for the whole NeoVictorian aesthetic. She's is the only photographer I know that can capture the images how I'd like to see them. She has a really impressive portfolio and has worked with many Eccentric Personalities. For example, the Queen of Rouge Taxidermy, Sarina Brewer. I should devote an entire blog about Sarina at some point...she's phenomenal! Meanwhile visit her website Custom Creature Taxidermy.



This photograph is one of my favorites! The model here is genius, Thomas J. Kuntz, creator of art and automata. When I'm rich and famous, I would love to commission him to make me a Victorian Fortune Telling Penny Arcade Machine...Madame Fortuna...Knows All...See All! HeeHee!



Did I mention Robyn makes fabulous Cabinets of Curiosities? They are available to purchase on her website! However, if you'd like to view more of her Photography, go to her Myspace page. She's a busy bee and I'd imagine she hasn't had the time to update her site! She recently moved to Hollywood and I think she's gonna be a big deal out there soon. So if you'd like to work with her...contact her now, before she's too busy!

Grotesque Beauties

The art form known as taxidermy has a little place in my heart. A morbid curiosity, I know! But before you shake your animal loving head in disgust, let me explain. The taxidermy revival has brought a new breed of artisians with it called rogue taxidermists. They restore vintage taxidermy, and use found animals...eh hem, roadkill! Some also take on commissions to do pet memorials. Yes, you too can immortalize your pet when he/she dies!

I'm particularly interested in a certain genres of taxidermy. First, Crypto-taxidermy is the creation of imagined species, like winged cats, jackalopes, and unicorns, ect... This sort of thing was popular with the Victorians who would display these creations in their Curiosity Cabinets (Wunderkammer) You would also find these kind of creations in traveling circus sideshows. Popular sideshow attractions such as two headed animals, or mumified bodies of mermaid creatures, half monkey, half fish... Second, Anthropomorphic taxidermy is where stuffed animals are dressed as people, engaged in human activities, a Tea Party perhaps! Check out these "Grotesque Beauties".



This one is my favorite, it's Esmeralda, the Fortune Telling Chicken!

Disce Mori

Mourning jewelry mirrored the lives and times of the people who wore it. It was a souvenir to remember a loved one, a reminder to the living of the inevitability of death, and a status symbol, especially during the Victorian era. Mourning jewelry reached its height of popularity in England after the death of Prince Albert in December 1861. Queen Victoria went into deep mourning, which was imitated by her subjects when faced with their own bereavements.

In the United States the use of mourning jewelry increased with the outbreak of the Civil War. This coincided with the black jewelry used in England in sympathy with Queen Victoria's widowhood. For the first year, a woman who was in mourning was not allowed to exit her home with out full black attire and a weeping veil. Her activities were initially restricted to church services. But mourning attire was the perfect way to show the wealth and respectability of a woman.




The earliest examples of mourning jewelry were found in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. Black and white enameled heads or skulls were often set into rings and brooches. In the 17th and 18th centuries it was a status symbol to present mourning jewelry to friends and families of the bereaved.

I am particularly in love with hair brooches...beautiful jewelry in which one would keep a lock of hair belonging to the deceased.




I am smitten by modern interpretations of Victorian jewelry. One of my favorite designers is Julia deVille of Disce Mori. If you love the Steampunk aesthetic, you will love her web design! Her work is not limited to jewelry, she also offer elegant leather gloves, spats, and taxidermy art objects!