Lion of Gripsholm Castle explained

The Lion of Gripsholm Castle is a notable example of a poorly performed taxidermy located in Gripsholm Castle, Sweden. The lion is badly stuffed and is considered to have a comically deformed face.[1]

In 1731, the dey of Algiers, Baba Abdi, presented King Frederick I of Sweden with a lion, 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. There are two main theories that give insight into an explanation of the over exaggerated features of the restoration. A popular theory is that the taxidermist and the museum-keepers may have never actually seen a lion before, and did not know how they were supposed to look. Thus explaining the liberties taken with the lion.[3] However, it is speculated that, it is much more likely for the liberties of the restoration to have been based on an importation for a tribute to historic artwork of lions. As seen on the coat of arms. This is backed by the extreme similarities observed, not only in over-exaggerated body posterization and white teeth, but the drastic similarities in facial anatomical composition.

In the 21st century, the badly-stuffed lion has been widely mocked.[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hilariously Bad Lion Taxidermy . Donna . Dickens . 18 August 2011 . Buzzfeed. 9 March 2014. 17 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140717041005/http://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/hilariously-bad-lion-taxidermy. live.
  2. Web site: Le lion empaillé de Gripsholm. La Boite Verte. 28 March 2011 . 9 March 2014. 9 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309184234/http://www.laboiteverte.fr/le-lion-empaille-de-gripsholm/. live.
  3. Web site: The Greatest Castles in Sweden: Uncovering Magical Swedish Castles. Exploring Castles. 9 March 2014. 9 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309184608/http://www.exploring-castles.com/castles_in_sweden.html#gripsholm_lion. live.
  4. Web site: Bad taxidermy: The lion at the castle of Gripsholm . Doobybrain . August 17, 2011 . 9 March 2014 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309201041/http://www.doobybrain.com/2011/08/17/bad-taxidermy-the-lion-at-the-castle-of-gripsholm/ . 9 March 2014 .
  5. Web site: The lion of Gripsholm's castle. As Good as it gets . 11 April 2011 . 9 March 2014. 8 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140708203227/http://www.ulrikagood.com/2011/04/lion-of-gripshoms-castle.html. live.
  6. Web site: The stuffed lion of Gripsholm's Castle. The Proceedings of the Ever so Strange . 9 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140309184648/http://www.eversostrange.com/2011/03/27/the-stuffed-lion-of-gripsholms-castle/. 9 March 2014. dead.
  7. Web site: 18th Century Taxidermy Unkind to Noble Lion. 11 April 2011 . Max . Eddy . 9 March 2014. 8 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140308025528/http://www.geekosystem.com/lion-taxidermy/. live.
  8. Web site: The Lion of Gripsholm Castle. 12 April 2011 . Miss Cellania . Mentalfloss. 9 March 2014. 5 March 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140305124545/http://mentalfloss.com/article/27487/lion-gripsholm-castle. live.
  9. Web site: Lejonet på Gripsholms Slott. Facebook. 9 March 2014. 17 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160717160209/https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lejonet-p%C3%A5-Gripsholms-Slott/113607498385. live.

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