blackbackedjackal: blackbackedjackal: Sinclair Clark (1902-1999) was a legendary tanner. He was know
blackbackedjackal: blackbackedjackal: Sinclair Clark (1902-1999) was a legendary tanner. He was known throughout the taxidermy industry for his expertise in tanning animal skin to give them the suppleness required to create lifelike, long-lasting displays. His most famous works includes “Henry” the African Bush Elephant at the National Museum of Natural History and the racehorse Phar Lap at the Melbourne Museum. Sinclair was recently inducted into the Taxidermy Hall of Fame in 2021. Sinclair Clark was credited for tanning nearly all of the Akeley Hall of African Mammals at the NMNH including four of the original elephants. Carl Akeley is considered to be the father of modern taxidermy, and Sinclair Clark worked closely with him, even being invited to join him on what was to be Akeley’s final excursion to Africa. He also worked as a tannery manager for The Jonas Brothers (no not those Jonas Brothers) for many years. The Jonas Brothers contributed to many displays at The Field Museum, the Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, and more. Here’s an image of Phar Lap as he was being mounted. The hide looks incredibly pliable and soft for something tanned before modern tanning methods (which Sinclair Clark also helped develop).Tanners are not well know outside of the taxidermy industry, but it’s a very important job even if it not the same glamor of being a taxidermist. It’s difficult to say just how many museums and specimens Sinclair contributed his tanning expertise to, but his legacy is nothing to glance over. -- source link