Editing Carl Akeley (section)

== The Akeley Method ==
First and foremost, Akeley believed and was obsessively committed to the idea that taxidermy could produce mounted animals that look not just lifelike, but alive. Akeley was equally committed to presenting mounts in the context of their scientifically accurate environments and social interactions.[[File:Amnh fg03.jpg|thumbnail|Gorilla diorama is one of Akeley's dioramas, which is on display in the [[American Museum of Natural History]].]]

Akeley's techniques resulted in anatomically accurate, skinless manikins of an animal in lifelike actions and postures. The mannequin was extremely lightweight and hollow and made primarily of [[Papier-mâché|papier mache]] and wire mesh. Akeley based the mannequin on precise field measurements and photographs as well as his understanding of the animal's anatomy and behavior in its natural environment. After creating the mannequin, the hide and hooves were meticulously attached.

The steps to the Akeley Method:

# Akeley first sculpted a detailed and precise 1/12th scale clay model of his ultimate mount
# He then built an armature using: skeletal bones, wood, metal rods, wire, and wire mesh
# Akeley then covered the armature with plaster and then clay, which he sculpted to produce an exact model of the living animal
# He then coated the clay model with plaster. When dry, the plaster mold was removed from the clay in sections and resulted in a perfect mold of the sculpted model
# Papier mache pulp and supportive mesh wire was applied to the inside of the plaster mold and when dried produced a full-scale hollow mannequin in the exact form of the original sculpture
#The mannequin was clothed with the original pelt and sewn up so that not a seam is discernible<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=CONTENTdm|url=https://cdm17032.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p17032coll5/id/13/rec/44|website=cdm17032.contentdm.oclc.org|access-date=2020-05-13}}</ref>