About Nicely's Taxidermy. . . . .
Nicely's
Taxidermy is a family-owned, full-service taxidermy studio
with a special talent for
fiberglass fish mounts.
It all started when Pete Nicely was eight years old and learning the science and art of taxidermy through a correspondence course on the kitchen table. . . much to his Mother's dismay. He has, in the many years since, been a seminar instructor and judge at Virginia Taxidermy conventions, and he was given a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999 from the VA Taxidermists Association.
His wife, Sally, was accidentally introduced to the field soon after they were married by coming home from work to find skin mounted fish lying on the window sills drying. It became her job to restore the color.
Out
of necessity, and by trial and error, they soon began to master the art
of fish
taxidermy together. Eventually, skin mounts were replaced
by fiberglass replicas, made possible by improved techniques
and materials. Some 40+ years later, they have built
an extensive collection of molds, including many records.
A superior, natural-looking mold is made by casting over the actual, uncut specimen, thereby maintaining muscle definition, subtle body contours, tiny scales and scales showing age rings.
The color restoration is just as important. Translucent lacquer pigments are used in blends and over-lays and applied at different angles to achieve shimmering, subtle hues and shadings. Many species will take on varying hints of color when viewed from different angles, the same way the real fish will. Good, clear color photos with the order will greatly assist our artists in duplicating your fish. Otherwise we will use a color scheme generally accepted as typical for the species.
When you work this hard and
long at building a business you want to see it continue
in good hands. That's where family comes in. Their older
daughter, Wendy, and her husband, Tommy, worked there
for several years before deciding to go into other fields.
Tim Porterfield has worked for Nicely's for 19 years and has proven himself a talented taxidermist in all aspects. He began working in the fiberglass fish department, then started into animal trophy mounts. He has received his share of accolades for great work. He can do it all.
And, not only that, he is their
son-in-law. He is married to their younger daughter,
Shannon. She began working in the finishing and painting
department while still in high school. After graduation,
she worked full-time taking over much of the painting
responsibilities from Sally. She took to it like a fish
to water and is now even more particular than her teacher
mother.
The rest of the current staff is Donna Freels whose basic job is preparing fish and game mounts for finishing. But, she pitches in wherever needed. Loretta Robinson lays up the parts from the molds and puts them together for the finishers. Good crew!
Don't hesitate to ask questions. Call if you want something you don't see listed. We are adding to our inventory all the time.
Good Fishing!