Edition #14: Taxidermy Frog Folk Art
Just another tourist trap oddity or work of art?
Taxidermy is not for everyone — and that’s coming from someone that collects taxidermy and other macabre items— but when it’s made to be funny, anyone can enjoy it. These taxidermy frogs (usually a stuffed cane toad) were created mostly for the Mexican tourist trade throughout the 20th century and featured the animals posed in what’s called an “anthropomorphic tableaux”. This style of taxidermy was made popular by Walter Potter in the mid-to-late 1800s, with his most famous works titled things like “The Kittens’ Wedding” and “The Death and Burial of Cock Robin”. His work was incredibly detailed and fantastical, while these frogs were mostly set up in crude displays. Some sit at bars drinking beers (Coronas, obviously), some are playing pool, a lot were musicians or drunks wearing sombreros and sarapes.
3- Vintage Taxidermy Bullfrogs Toad Playing Instruments Oddities on Etsy: A full band of frogs playing instruments really is a showstopper of a piece to put on a bookshelf.
TAXIDERMY Bull Frogs soccer animal folk outsider art on eBay: Is this soccer or is that a volleyball? Either way, I want this guy’s skin secrets.
Vintage Mexican Folk Art Taxidermy Frog Playing Basketball! on eBay: Frogs are obviously very good at basketball because of how high they can jump. This one does kind of look like someone about to dunk on a kid-sized hoop and embarrass their 5 year old cousin.
Vintage Authentic Mexican Folk Art Taxidermy Frogs Playing Pool on eBay: This tableaux is just so good. The frog about to shoot just saw you walk in and thinks he can make a quick buck. Don’t fall for it.
Vintage TAXIDERMY Bull Frogs Playing DOMINOES animal folk outsider art on eBay: The domino playing toads may be one of my favorites. I cant’t tell who’s winning but it looks like a pretty close game.
Vintage Folk Art Taxidermy Frogs Serving/ Drinking Corona Beer 4.5" on eBay: When researching, I tried to avoid all of the drinking versions (it felt a little overdone) but I feel like the frog behind this bar deserves a raise.
Vintage Taxidermy Frog Mexican Folk Art Curiosities Oddities Vintage Taxidermy Bull Frog Mazatlán Mexico on Etsy: I love this sunbathing beauty. Another version of this includes a lovely parasol.
Taxidermy frog Accordian player on Etsy: Okay, a toad with an accordion just makes sense to me.
Vintage Taxidermy Frog Toad Playing Baseball Mexican Folk Art on eBay: Something for the baseball fan in your life that already has it all. I love how he actually looks like he could play in the MLB. Great stance and swing.
Vintage Taxidermy Frog Bullfrog Riding A Motorcycle Bike Rare Mexican Folk Art on eBay: This is actually what started it all. I found a listing for one like this on Facebook Marketplace and just missed out on grabbing it for $25. Truly a work of art.
Honorable Mentions:
What terms were searched:
Taxidermy frog folk art
Toad taxidermy
Mexican taxidermy frog
Novelty frog taxidermy
Welcome to Finder’s Keepers
This is the newsletter dedicated to leaving no vintage stone unturned. Each edition will cater to a rabbit hole that I fell down one night and include an assortment of vintage finds that make you question “Why did anyone own this?” followed quickly by “Should I own this?”
My method is simple: I attach a keyword or phrase to the item and go digging, spending hours each week combing through hundreds of pages of Etsy and Ebay bric-a-brac. It’s chaotic but satisfactory, like looking through every rack and bin at a thrift store for those that partake in the more visceral act of going in person. I like to sit on my couch.