The Australia Taxidermy grading system
Seven tiers, applied the same way across every species we sell — so a grade means the same thing whether you’re buying your first mount or adding to an existing collection.
“Good condition” means different things to different sellers. We grade every specimen against the same fixed criteria and publish the result on the listing, so you can compare pieces — even across different species — before you buy.
What we assess
- Hide, fur or feather condition — colour retention, any thinning, insect damage or fading
- Horn, antler or tusk size and symmetry, where applicable
- Anatomical accuracy of the mount — proportions, facial detail, glass eye placement
- Pose and how naturally the mount sits or stands
- Quality of the original preparation and tanning work
- Any repairs, restoration or touch-up work, and how well it was done
The seven grades
Museum Class
Exhibition-standard preparation with no visible flaws. The benchmark grade — comparable to a piece you’d expect to see in a natural history museum display.
Connoisseur
Exceptional preparation and condition, with only the most minor, expert-detectable imperfections.
Premier
Excellent all-round condition with strong pose and colour — a step below Connoisseur on fine detail only.
Excellent
Strong condition suitable for prominent display, with minor, honestly disclosed wear.
Standard
Solid, display-ready condition — the most common grade for well-kept mounts of any age.
Estate
Older piece sourced from an estate or private collection, with condition notes reflecting its age and provenance.
Heritage
Antique or vintage taxidermy, graded on its own terms — age-appropriate wear expected and clearly described rather than treated as a fault.
Where the grade shows up
Every listing in the shop shows its grade next to the mount type, and the catalogue number lets you ask us about a specific piece’s grading notes directly. If a grade and the photos don’t seem to line up, tell us — that’s a mistake we want to know about, not a debate we want to win.
Grading and price
Grade is one input into price, alongside species, size and market demand — it isn’t the only factor, so two “Standard” pieces from different species can be priced very differently. Use the grade to compare condition, not to predict price.