Owney the Dog

So... continuing on with my recent taxidermy trend(in–part due to my groups topic of choice for our Anthropology 397 case study assignment)... I bring to you Owney the Dog. Sometimes people choose to preserve a body after death because of love. Taxidermy was not cheap in the late 1800's, nor is it now. This little dog's memory will last and last. He will be around for future generations to experience and his presence will be strengthened because of it's physical and material nature. In the photos above, he appears to look much different in life than in death. This could be due to the age of the taxidermy or the outdated style of the taxidermic processes used.

Below is a summary about Owney based on the information found at: http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/exhibits/2c1f_owney.html

Due to chance, Owney ended up a regular at the Albany, New York, post office in 1888. He loved mail bags and would follow them on routes that would eventually end up being cross-country train trips with the mail. Owney made his first world-round trip in 1895. This little dog was considered a good luck charm because no train he rode on was ever in an accident which lead him to become the mascot for The Railway mail clerks. These clerks placed little tags or medals on Owney's collar to mark the places he had traveled to. Postmaster General John Wanamaker gave Owney a harness to use for displaying his medals. Upon his death in 1897, mail clerks put together money to have Owney's body preserved through taxidermy. He was given to the Post Office Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and then to the Smithsonian Institution in 1911 where he can be seen in the National Postal Museum's atrium.


– Maia B

Wearing Death

These gosh darn Victorians and their obsession with death... I suppose it did end up aiding to produce some interesting and unique pieces of material culture. These beautiful pieces at the top feature two hummingbird heads mounted as earrings in 18k yellow gold. They are estimated by the jeweler selling them to be from the 1870's with similar earrings being on display at The Victoria and Albert Museum(second image). According to good old Wikipedia, the Victorian years are considered to be the golden era of taxidermy. This is not the first time I have heard mention of that title. Many different taxidermic or preserved specimens could be found in the "cabinets of curiosities" belonging to the wealthy and the intrigued. New technologies plus old traditional knowledge combined and melded together in perfecting this art form that is still frequently used today.

-Maia B

Monument Analysis Comments and Map

View Ogden point A and B terminals in a larger map

This map and images are from my groups field work day for a monument analysis assignment. Originally we had planned to walk up the breakwater, then down Dallas Road recording benches all the way towards the Terry Fox statue to finish. When we arrived at Ogden Point and the base of the breakwater, there was a ton of benches!!!! More than enough to meet the "3 monuments a person" requirement. As a group, we decided to stay there to record. It was a very pretty and pleasant 2-2.5 hours. No disruptions at all and we were able to work very efficiently. The image of the man with his arm up in the air was our first monument, a tribute to the Vancouver Island Town Criers of the past and present(both images are my personal photos). This monument was donated to Ogden Point and to Butchart Gardens so I am curious if it switches every few years and maybe has two temporary homes. The image above the man is the view from the base of the breakwater facing south, the direction of many of our recorded monuments. Our chosen location was kind of an interesting location to place memorials for people. It is very industrial and not all that pretty plus very touristy. Most people do not even walk around the docks much but head right into the heart of Victoria. Four of the benches we notices had a deeper purpose for being located there. Two were once pilot captains which have one of their stations located right inside the breakwater, both were facing the pilot boats. Of the remaining two benches with inscriptions related to the location, one specifically mentions the breakwater and the other Dallas Road in a more general way. Some people may see this location as just an ugly dock and parking lot but for many that reside in Victoria, the area around the breakwater is a favourite place to walk and take in the phenomenal views. I can understand why, even with all the industrial traffic behind the benches, someone would love to have an honorary memorial facing the breakwater, ocean, and mountains because it is one of my personal favourite places too.


-Maia B

Holy Cows!

Image from the Washington DC National Museum of Natural History

This link leads to a pretty good article about the Serapeum of Saqqara.

The Serapeum is a catacomb found in Egypt associated with the Cult of Apis where the sacred Apis Bulls were laid to rest after the mummification process. These bulls were thought of as being the incarnation of the god Ptah who(according to wikipedia) is the patron of craftsmanship, metalworking, carpenters, shipbuilders, and sculpture. There was also very specific, uniform markings and colorings associated with the Apis bulls. All were black and white with a white belly, a white forehead and throat blaze, and a red saddle-like mark on their backs. Only 67 bulls have been found so far with one bull being worshiped at a time until it passed. Any death of such a bull would take its toll upon the entire nation. Baby calves that died were placed in a separate catacomb which has not yet been found. The catacombs containing the Apis Bulls was first excavated beginning on November 1st, 1850, under the supervision of Auguste Mariette; famous French scholar, archaeologist, and Egyptologist. Entry was gained to the first chamber on November 12th, 1951, with the second chamber being discovered in 1852. A body of a man was found upon entry into the first chamber. It ended up being Prince Khaemwese, son of Ramesses II and high priest of Ptah, who claimed he wished to be interred with his precious bulls and not in a royal tomb of his own.

I think it is very interesting that these bulls were treated like the wealthy and royal upon death. Mummification is an extensive process. The Egyptians also had very lavish funerals for these bulls. Kind of beautiful to see animals respected in this manner. This also makes me wonder when the worship of cattle began in religions such as Hinduism. In an archaeology of domestication lecture the other day, my professor even mentioned that cows are spoken of in the King James book of Genesis. Oh holy cows! Moo<3

- Maia B