Lion of Gripsholm Castle

The Lion of Gripsholm Castle is a notable example of bad taxidermy, in the museum of Gripsholm Castle, in Sweden. The lion is badly stuffed; it has a comically unrealistic face.[1]

History

In 1731, the Bey of Algiers presented King Frederick I of Sweden with a lion. It was one of the first lions in Scandinavia.[2] When alive, the lion was kept in a cage near Junibacken. When the lion died, it was stuffed and mounted, but the taxidermist and the museum-keepers would have been unfamiliar with the appearance of live lions.[3] However, from the side, the setting does resemble a heraldic lion rather than a "real" lion.[4]

Notoriety

In the 21st century, the badly-stuffed lion has been widely mocked.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

References

  1. ↑ "Hilariously Bad Lion Taxidermy". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Le lion empaillé de Gripsholm". La Boite Verte. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "The Greatest Castles in Sweden: Uncovering Magical Swedish Castles". Exploring Castles. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  4. ↑ Snopes, "Gripsholm Castle Lion"
  5. ↑ "Bad taxidermy: The lion at the castle of Gripsholm". Doobybrain. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "The lion of Gripsholm's castle". Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "The stuffed lion of Gripsholm's Castle". Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "18th Century Taxidermy Unkind to Noble Lion". Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Lion of Gripsholm Castle". Mentalfloss. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Lejonet på Gripsholms Slott". Facebook. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
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