FAQ

Where do Deyrolle's taxidermies come from? Deyrolle is a house dedicated to the transmission of life. Since 1831, its vocation has been educational and cultural: Deyrolle participates in the creation of private and institutional collections.

At Deyrolle, taxidermies are naturalized after having lived their lives.

All over Europe and the world, zoos, parks and farms preserve animals after their death (from old age or illness) so that they can be stuffed and preserved for future generations.

Some animals also come from museum collections that we completely restore.

The naturalization or restoration of these pieces sometimes required weeks of meticulous work and rare know-how.

Protected species are held, sold and exported in strict compliance with the Washington Convention (CITES).  

Because each specimen is a unique witness to biodiversity. Taxidermy allows us to extend the existence of animals in an educational , museographic, and scientific role. Taxidermy is a work of remembrance that gives a second life to already dead animals in order to raise awareness and transmit knowledge.

Taxidermy at Deyrolle is in harmony with ecology: it helps raise public awareness of biodiversity and the need to protect species. Taxidermy also showcases the beauty of nature: and showcasing the beauty of nature to inspire people to preserve it is also one of Deyrolle's missions.

All our practices are governed by strict traceability, and we work in close transparency with museums, zoos and animal parks.

Heir to the naturalist tradition of the 19th century, Deyrolle is today part of a contemporary and ecological approach. We are transforming this heritage into a modern awareness, focused on the protection of nature and the transmission of knowledge.

Deyrolle is committed to the future by transforming its heritage into awareness-raising tools: through educational projects, exhibitions and scientific and cultural collaborations, we contribute to understanding and protecting living things.

The pieces sold at Deyrolle are intended for everyone. They particularly attract collectors, museums, decorators, and nature enthusiasts, young and old!

Deyrolle has existed since 1831. After beginnings on the right bank and setting up huge carpentry, taxidermy and glassworks workshops in Auteuil, rue Chanez, Emile Deyrolle set up

his offices and store in 1888 at 46 rue du Bac, in the former private mansion of Samuel Bernard (son of Louis XIV's banker). Deyrolle has therefore been located at this address since 1888!

After several owners succeeded the Deyrolle family, the company was bought in 2001 by Louis Albert de Broglie. Passionate about biodiversity and a committed entrepreneur, he had already created what would become the National Tomato Conservatory in the grounds of the Château-hôtel de La Bourdaisière, in Touraine, rich in 800 varieties. Deyrolle presents itself as a new way of approaching biodiversity, through a scientific and educational institution. He intends to restore its nobility to this historic house and undertakes renovation work on the shop. He passes on his commitment to Deyrolle and relaunches the house's historic publishing activity by creating a new collection of educational boards around contemporary environmental and societal issues in 2007 .

 A terrible fire ravaged the shop on February ^1, 2008 , destroying more than 90% of the entomological collections and furniture. The appalling spectacle of desolation immediately sparked an avalanche of expressions of sympathy from a public who refused to see this Parisian and global heritage disappear. Support poured in from all sides:

individuals, businesses, neighbors, foreign visitors, collectors, artists... All the works offered by the artists to the Association of Friends of Deyrolle, and created from

The remains of the fire are the subject of an auction organized by Christie's at the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature. The proceeds of this sale will enable the reconstruction of the entomology cabinet, the furniture and the collections.

In addition to this generous and supportive action, there are also the equally generous expressions of friendship from the houses of Hermès, Gallimard, Beaux-Arts and the Jardiland Institute.

Today, Deyrolle continues to live between his heritage and his roots in today's times. 

Yes, Deyrolle can offer workshops upon request, for individuals, groups, adults, or children (guided tours, nature drawing, insect displays, etc.). For any information on this subject, you can send an email to contact@deyrolle.fr

Since 2001, Deyrolle has belonged to Prince Louis Albert de Broglie. A biodiversity enthusiast, author, designer, and committed entrepreneur, he had already created what would become the National Tomato Conservatory in the grounds of the Château-hôtel de La Bourdaisière in Touraine, boasting 800 varieties, as well as the brand Le Prince Jardinier (his nickname), a brand of the art of living around the garden.

Deyrolle then presented itself to him as a new way of approaching biodiversity, through a scientific and educational institution. He intended to restore the nobility of this historic house and undertook renovation work on the boutique while transmitting his commitment to Deyrolle. In particular, he relaunched the house's historic publishing business by creating a new collection of educational boards around contemporary environmental and societal issues in 2007. These boards were distributed for several years in schools in France. Deyrolle also became a partner of COP21 for education, and numerous works brought the heritage of this unique house to life.

Louis Albert often explains that " In the past, Deyrolle explained the earth to the greatest number, today Deyrolle must explain how to preserve it ."

The stuffed animals and insects presented are natural, the colors are not painted.

The insect compositions are created by the Deyrolle team. You can sometimes even see the teams working on these compositions in the shop. They can also be custom-made upon request.

Preparing insects means putting them in shape for display or collection.

First, the insects must be moistened so that they can be handled and made mobile without breaking them. Then, the legs, antennae, and sometimes wings must be straightened into a position that is both natural and aesthetically pleasing, and that corresponds to the codes of scientific study of entomology.

Once the insect is properly positioned and fixed on a stand in this position, it must dry (drying time varies depending on the insect), before it can be placed in a box, display case or globe.

The pieces sold at Deyrolle (taxidermy, entomology, mineralogy, osteology, etc.) are not manufactured objects, but specimens of Nature. In this sense, each piece is unique because each piece depicts one or more individuals from the living world. 

For products requiring a CITES document, the appropriate documents will be provided.

CITES stands for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement aimed at preventing the extinction of endangered animal and plant species by regulating their trade. A CITES document indicates that the product was obtained and traded legally and responsibly, in accordance with international regulations.

Our animals are mounted by taxidermists with whom Deyrolle has worked for many years. All our taxidermists are selected for the excellence of their expertise. 

Our butterflies and insects are prepared by our entomologists, who work with extreme precision thanks to their rare expertise. Preparing insects is a very delicate task that requires patience and attention to detail, as insects are very fragile.

If you have just acquired an entomological piece from our collections:

Thank you! We have packaged this insect with the utmost care to ensure it arrives at your home intact.

The preparation of each insect requires that it be pricked at the level of its thorax;

This pin should not be removed. However, for transport, we have

positioned other pins to stabilize it in the box; these can be

removed from the box. Simply open it gently and carefully remove the

pins.

Here are some tips to help you preserve this natural wonder

as long as possible:

• Do not expose your box to direct sunlight, as the colors will be altered;

• Place your box with the insect in the freezer once a year, for 5 days, to

prevent parasites.

If you notice any changes in your box, please do not hesitate to contact us.

contact.

Enjoy your wonderful purchase!

If you have just purchased a piece of taxidermy from our collections:

Thank you!

This animal was naturalized according to the rules of the art and according to the standards in force by a taxidermist.

The parts that leave our workshops are treated internally and externally

against parasites, but this latter treatment can become stale over time. To prevent your naturalizations from being infested with parasites, it is recommended to spray an insecticide two to three times a year.

To keep it as it was delivered to you, here are some maintenance tips:

• For feathered animals:

Every six months, lightly wipe with a cloth soaked in essence C (organic solvent), protecting your skin with gloves.

• For furry animals:

Every six months, remove dust with a hairdryer on low heat and on a cool setting, and wipe the hair with a cloth soaked in essence C (organic solvent), protecting your skin with gloves.

Warning: Gasoline C is an easily flammable liquid and harmful in case of

inhalation, eye contact, skin contact and ingestion. Stay

Be careful when using it and keep the product away from children,

from heat and any other source of ignition.

Enjoy your wonderful purchase!

Shipping naturalized pieces is similar to transporting artwork, as the pieces are unique and fragile. They are therefore carefully packaged by our teams. The shipment can be by post or by carrier, depending on the type of product.