TAXIDERMY: ZOOMORPHIC BIG HAIRY ARMADILLO (CHAETOPHRACTUS VILLOSUS) BASKET, LATE 19TH/ EARLY 20TH CENTURY ‘zoomorphic’ taxidermy, when the animal has been made into something useful. Made in circa 1890-1920, this example is a basket. Imagine using this to go raspberry or wild flower picking. Or perhaps use it to store your sewing equipment. It sits flat on its back, and displays well with potpourri or seashells in it.

Examples made out of nine-banded armadillos are slightly more common and were produced for the tourist trade in Texas and South America. These hairy armadillos are only found in South America, so would have originated there.

21cm wide