Elephants Are Not Picked From Trees

Beskrivelse

“Elephants are not picked from trees” captures the quest of Swedish taxidermist David Sjölander as he sought the perfect elephant specimen in Angola in 1948. This book explores the fascinating history behind the display of four remarkable mammals at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum.

A cultural history of how iconic mammals became museum exhibits in Gothenburg.

At 62 years old, David Sjölander fulfilled a lifelong ambition by hunting a bull elephant to prepare for exhibition. This African elephant was destined to be the centerpiece of the Mammal Room at the Gothenburg Natural History Museum. Liv Emma Thorsen, a professor of cultural history, delves into the story behind four notable mammals-the elephant, gorilla, Tonkean macaque, and walrus-that drew significant public attention when first displayed.

The book investigates how the museum acquired these animals between 1906 and 1948, revealing the process of transforming living creatures into preserved exhibits. Through photographs and archival documents from the Gothenburg Natural History Museum, Thorsen demonstrates that natural history museums hold invaluable resources for understanding the cultural history of animals.

Ultimately, the book argues that these museums present a version of nature shaped by historical, social, and cultural influences, offering a unique perspective on how animals have been represented over time.

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