The breadth of objects made in the shapes of animals is as wide as the animal kingdom itself. Animal lovers surround themselves with porcelain figurines of cats, dogs, and horses from the likes of Royal Doulton and Lefton; art glass pieces shaped liked roosters and owls; and stuffed plush animals, whether they are tagged as Steiff or left unsigned as lovable teddy bears.
Every culture has unique relationships with its animals, often expressed in objects. People in China place foo lions (sometimes called foo dogs) in front of homes to signify the status of the people living inside, while Hindus in Indian revere a white elephant named Airavata, who bears the god Indra on its back. Other animals are used as bait for hunters (frog fishing lures to attract bass, duck decoys to attract real ducks). But in the 21st century, it’s the fictional animals that keep most of us amused, from a dog named Snoopy to a mouse named Mickey.
Interviews & Articles
The Folklore and Fashion of Japanese Netsuke

When men wore kimono in the 17th century, they had hanging containers and pouches called sagemono and stacked containers called in… [more]
Taxidermy Comes Alive! On the Web, the Silver Screen, and in Your Living Room

"Taxidermy is never a mundane science," Rachel Poliquin wrote in her 2009 essay, “Immortal Beauties,” on photographer Mary Frey's … [more]
Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)
The Dog Jewelry Museum

Deb Schneider’s online museum features more than 700 pieces of dog-themed costume jewelry, from butterscotch Bake… [read review or visit site]
Vintage Costume Jewelry Owl Pendants

Daniel VanArsdale loves owls. He must, because his online collection of costume jewelry owl pendants numbers more t… [read review or visit site]
National Carousel Association

Since 1973, the National Carousel Association has been dedicated to preserving and restoring carousels and carousel… [read review or visit site]
Vintage Guru Reveals Her Glamour Secrets
The Killer Mobile Device for Victorian Women
Gloriously Grotesque 19th-Century Pipes
The Beautiful Chaos of Improvisational Quilts
Our Dad, the Water Witch of Wyoming
This 1959 Goggomobil Is Insanely Cute and Gets 55 MPG. Why Can’t Detroit Do That?
California Cool: How the Wetsuit Became the Surfer's Second Skin
The Unfiltered History of Rolling Papers, Plus Tommy Chong's Big Fat Jamaican Vacation
World's Smallest Museum Finds the Wonder in Everyday Objects
Fightin’ Femmes: Unmasking Female Superheroes with Author Mike Madrid

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