Van Ingen & Van Ingen of Mysore
Van Ingen & Van Ingen or Van Ingen of Mysore were Indian taxidermists located in Mysore, South India, best known for their tiger and leopard taxidermy trophy mounts. Morris states in A History of Taxidermy; Art, science and bad taste (2006) that Van Ingen factory processed more than 43,000 tiger and leopard trophies in less than 90 years of operation. Their taxidermy today is still found throughout the world in the form of head mounts, full mounts, flat animal rugs, and rug mounts with heads attached. The firm was established by Eugene Van Ingen in the 1890s and served the highest in international nobility as well as the Maharajas of India, preserving their "shikar" hunting trophies in the most lifelike poses and in the utmost beauty, with attention to detail like no other in their time of operation.
Their work was synonymous with quality and fine workmanship, constructing moulds, mannikins, glass eyes, tongues, teeth and even whiskers for jobs of all different sizes of big cat skins and hunting trophies that customers would bring to them. The "snarling" open mouth expression of finished big cat mounts was one of the Van Ingen's trademark qualities, a feature rigorously studied and made possible only by special head moulds which had specifically built grooves on the nose area. Glass eyes were imported from Germany, hand-painted individually by a factory workman each pair painted specifically for each individual taxidermy mount. Van Ingen constructed mannikins and moulds of all sizes meaning they could produce mounts of consistent quality for a variety of poses from head mounts to full mount life-size pieces.
Moghul royalty in India hunted tigers for pleasure but also out of necessity for tigers were abundant and killed many people, and often took important visitors, just as the previous owners of this skin, on a hunting trip.
Tigers were hunted to the brink of extinction up until far in the 20th century. Nowadays, most, fortunately, tiger numbers are rising in India and protection has established vital populations of these majestic animals.
We will donate part of the revenue on these specimens to a tiger conservation fund.
An extremely rare taxidermy Black leopard (Panthera pardus) 'shikar' hunting trophy by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore
India, taken in Uralikal, 14/4//42, mounted in Mysore
The melanistic leopard snarling, with dark black/brown fur, hand-painted eyes and real teeth.
H. 50 cm (board)
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
A splendid and mint condition Taxidermy Tiger skin Prayer mat rug by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore
Early 20th century
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
Located in the United Kingdom
An extremely large Shikar taxidermy tiger (Panthera tigris) by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore
India, circa 1931, taken on 16/3/1931 by John. H. Gardiner esq., Central Indian Horse Regiment, Delhi
The massive head with famous snarling expression, with stitch line to the neck, on original ebonized wooden board stamped to the back, numbered 16210 and with ivorine Van Ingen, Mysore plaque to one side
H. 86 cm (board)
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
Note:
The Van Ingen order books state that Gardiner ordered two tiger skins and skulls, as well as one 'Large HMS', a Head Mount Snarling.
A fine taxidermy Indian Jackall (Canis aureus indicus) hunting trophy by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore
India, circa 1927
One of the finest Indian Jackal masks, characteristically styled, protruding downward from its shield with ears set back and jaw agape in a full snarl. Modelled with glass eyes, fine whiskers and a naturalistically painted mouth. Set upon a typically shaped teak shield with a hollow slot for hanging, ivorine plaque to the front with matching handwritten details on the reverse: Ooty Hunt, Wapshares Hare to Pigthorn Nullah, 40 Minutes, Aug 29th 1927.
H. 32 cm (board)
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
A pair of extremely rare taxidermy tiger heads by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore
India, 1935, shot by Prince of Teck, the Earl of Athlone
Both with the famous hand-shaped VanIngen expression and Wiener hand-painted eyes, in resemblance of the real tiger, to keep its spiritual power of it alive.
H. 75 cm each
Provenance:
- Prince of Teck, Alexander Cambridge, the 1st Earl of Athlone, the 4th governor ofSouth-Africa and the 16th governor of Canada, cousin to King George V, Kensington Palace
- Private collection, United Kingdom
An extremely rare Black Leopard skin by Van Ingen & Van Ingen, Mysore, with jaw slightly agape
Taken by J. Macgillivray, manager of the Lattakoojan Tea Estate, Assam on 8-4-1946
A fantastic dark colour on the melanistic leopard, all claws and whiskers intact, with rare slightly agape mouth.
L. approx. 210 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, United Kingdom
Including age certificate and CITES
A VERY LARGE SHIKAR TIGER SKIN PRAYER MAT BY VAN INGEN & VAN INGEN, MYSORE
India, 1938
With the famous hand-shaped VanIngen snarling expression and hand-painted eyes, in resemblance of the real tiger, to keep the spiritual power of it alive.
L. approx. 320 cm
A MARVELOUS BLACK PANTHER SHIKAR TAXIDERMY PRAYER MAT BY VAN INGEN & VAN INGEN, MYSORE
India, 1938
With the famous hand-shaped VanIngen snarling expression and hand-painted eyes.
L. approx. 200 cm
Unfortunately it is unknown who took this animal, for the pages in the order books are missing, however the first numbers on the animal show that it's from 1938.
A large ‘shikar’ tiger skin (Panthera tigris tigris) prayer- mat by VanIngen & VanIngen, Mysore, with rare slightly agape mouth
India, circa 25/11/1942, taken by Mr. M.P.M. Halal
L. 300 x W. 220 cm
In good condition, with all claws and whiskers intact, the rug with a head mount, jaw slightly agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical original canvas backing with black felt trim, stencilled number 18585-1 and care label to the underside.
Including a certificate of age and a copy of the VanIngen order books with this order showing.
Provenance: Bombay Natural History Society
A FINE LEOPARD SKIN SHOULDER-MOUNT (PANTHERA PARDUS FUSCA) BY VAN INGEN & VAN INGEN, MYSORE
Early 20th century
With the famous VanIngen snarling face, Jaw agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical large ebonized shield.
H. 50 cm (shield)
A TAXIDERMY TIGER (Panthera tigris tigris) HEAD BY VANINGEN&VANINGEN, MYSORE
Circa 1936, taken by the Private Secretary to His Higness the Ruling Chief of Niligiri State, 22/09/1936
With the famous VanIngen snarling face, Jaw agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical large ebonized shield.
H. 95 cm (shield)
A FINE TAXIDERMY LEOPARD SKIN RUG (PANTHERA PARDUS FUSCA) BY VANINGEN&VANINGEN, MYSORE
Circa 1933, taken by J. Lycett Burd, Pamalipam, North Lakhimpur, Assam, 30/01/1933
With the famous VanIngen snarling face, Jaw agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical original canvas backing, Van Ingen care label to verso, and Van Ingen Mysore stencilling to a canvas backing.
L. 230 cm (nose to tail)
Provenance:
Collection J. Lycett Burd, United Kingdom, thence by descent
A FINE TAXIDERMY TIGER SKIN RUG (PANTHERA TIGRIS) BY VANINGEN&VANINGEN, MYSORE
Circa 1946, taken by T.G. Macneill, Rehabari, Northern Assam, North Eastern India, 23/02/1946
With the famous VanIngen gnarling face, Jaw agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical original canvas backing, Van Ingen care label to verso, and Van Ingen Mysore stencilling to a canvas backing.
L. 250 cm (nose to tail)
W. 161 cm (across fore-limbs) / 138 cm (across rear-limbs)
Provenance:
Collection T.G. Macneill, United Kingdom
Shot by him in Rehabari, Northern Assam, North-Eastern India om 23/02/1946, including a photocopy of the original entry into Van Ingen & Van Ingen order books.
A large ‘shikar’ tiger skin (Panthera tigris tigris) prayer-mat by VanIngen & VanIngen, Mysore
India, 1930s, taken by Sir Cuthbert Sprawson
In a good condition, with all claws and whiskers intact, the rug with head mount, snarling expression, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical original canvas backing with black felt trim, care label to the underside.
L. approx. 295 cm
W. approx. 206 cm
Note:
Including a certificate of age and a business card case from Mr. Sprawson.
Sir Cuthbert Sprawson held high administrative and university appointments in India at a time which was important for the future of its medical profession. As director-general of the Indian Medical Service, as professor of medicine in the University of Lucknow, and as the first president of the Medical Council of India, he made a lasting contribution to the land which he served for nearly forty years.
AN EXTREMELY LARGE TAXIDERMY TIGER SKIN RUG (PANTHERA TIGRIS) BY VANINGEN&VANINGEN, MYSORE
Early 20th century
With the famous VanIngen gnarling face, Jaw agape, hand-painted glass eyes, mounted upon typical original canvas backing, Van Ingen care label to verso.
L. 305 cm (nose to tail)
Provenance:
Noble collection, the Netherlands
