In article <[log in to unmask]>, Therese
Holdcraft <[log in to unmask]> says:
>
>In response to inquiries about "feejee mermaid" popularized by P T
>Barnum, the following information is offered regarding the piece held in
>the Peabody Museum-Harvard University, and exhibited in Baltimore in the
>exhibit "Mermaids, Mummies, and Mastodons" in 1990.  In Steven Williams'
>"Buried Treasures of the Peabody Museum" (published by Harvard U) No. 2.
>1969, the piece is described as "Java Mermaid".
>
>This "mermaid" is 38 cm L x 13 cm W x 12 cm H. The piece is constructed
>with a body and tail of a fish (possibly of the "Sparidae family") joined
>to a head and torso of unknown materials (possibly papier mache).  The
>head does appear to be pigmented papier mache applied to a foundation
>(wood? papier mache? mammal skull?).  Additional fish parts (again of the
>Sparidae family?) include bony fin rays (dorsal; pelvic; pectoral) and
>molariform and caniform teeth. Teeth are artificially set into "mouth".
>Surface hair has been applied in patches; and was identified as wool.
>
>
>T.Rose Holdcraft
>Conservation Department
>Peabody Museum-Harvard University
>11 Divinity Avenue
>Cambridge, MA  02138
>email:  [log in to unmask]

The Banff Indian Trading Post -- a tacky tourist store in Banff National
Park, Alberta, Canada, specializing in plastic tomahawks, furs and Indian
beadwork -- also has a "mermaid", actually, a mer-BOY). It is a fish tail
sewn (?) onto the mummified upper body of a human child.

Gross.