Object Literature
Found along the coast all year-round, the dunlin is a small sandpiper that breeds and winters in the UK. It can be seen in its upland breeding grounds in summer, when it turns brick-red above and sports a black patch on its belly. The English name is a dialect form of “dunling”, first recorded in 1531–1532. The common name, dunlin, comes from this birds’ habit of nesting in upland moors and bogs: ‘dun’ is an old Gaelic word for hill and ‘linne’ means pool or pond.
Joseph Cullingford (one of three brothers) of Durham was responsible for some of the finest taxidermy crafted during the late Victorian period and was appointed Curator of the University Museum, Palace Green, Durham in 1877. Although clearly operating on a commercial basis, Cullingford was employed at the Museum throughout most of his working life. From his Headed notepaper, it seems he had an arrangement enabling him to work privately whilst in the museum’s employ.
In our eyes, simply the most sublime taxidermist of all time.