A Jenny Haniver is the carcass of a ray or a skate that has been modified by hand then dried, resulting in a mummified specimen intended to resemble a fanciful fictional creature, such as a demon or dragon.[1] [2] [3] This practice dates back to the 16th century when these specimens were often sold as curiosities to sailors and collectors.
One suggestion for the origin of the term was the French phrase ("youth of Antwerp"). British sailors "cockneyed" this description into the personal name "Jenny Haniver".[1] [3]
Jenny Hanivers have been created to look like various mythical creatures, including devils, angels and dragons. Some writers have suggested the sea monk may have been a Jenny Haniver.[1]
The earliest known picture of Jenny Haniver appeared in Konrad Gesner's Historia Animalium vol. IV in 1558. Gesner warned that these were merely disfigured rays and should not be believed to be miniature dragons or monsters, which was a popular misconception at the time.[3] [4] [5]
The most common misconception was that Jenny Hanivers were basilisks. As basilisks were creatures that killed with merely a glance, no one could claim to know what one looks like. For this reason it was easy to pass off Jenny Hanivers as these creatures, which were still widely feared in the 16th century.[6]
In Veracruz, Jenny Hanivers are considered to have magical powers and are employed by curanderos in their rituals.[7] This tradition is similar to one in Japan, where fake taxidermy ningyo (similar to Fiji mermaids) were produced and kept in temples.