Henry Shaw

Who was Henry Shaw?

Henry Shaw was a notable nineteenth century taxidermist working in Shropshire, England. Shaw was born on the 3 October 1812 in Tarporley, Cheshire. His family moved to Shrewsbury, Shropshire when he was a young boy, where his father ran a small taxidermy shop in Shoplatch. Henry and his brother, John, trained under their father and continued to run the business as partners after their father's death. The brothers later separated and established taxidermy businesses in the town. Henry became the more successful, securing orders to mount and arrange collections at Hawkstone Park and Ludlow Museum. Lord Hill appointed him curator of his collection with an annual salary and a reputation that led to orders from across the country included commissions from the Duke of Westminster and the Duke of Portland.

Shaw was strong well-built character with a love of fighting and sport. He was an accomplished salmon fisherman. Shaw died, aged 75, on the 7 October 1887 after a short illness.

Henry Shaw's specimens can be distinguished by his preference for all wood cases with a glass front. The specimens are usually mounted on an artificial blue-grey rock with surrounding foliage. Examples of his mounted specimens remain in the collections of Shropshire Museums and are displayed at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery. These include one of three Great Auk specimens prepared by him.