The last taxidermist in Paris, the Deyrolle house was founded in 1831.
An incredible cabinet of curiosities that contains stuffed mammals (which died naturally), as well as shells, minerals, and educational charts.
Born at the end of the 18th century, Jean-Baptiste Deyrolle was passionate about entomology, a branch of zoology that studies insects and arthropods — animals with jointed legs, such as crustaceans and arachnids. When he created the Deyrolle brand and opened his shop on the Right Bank, he brought together the worlds of insects and natural science collections, while continuing his activity as a taxidermist.
First Achille, then his grandson Émile, took over. Naturalists, scientists, and collectors flocked to the shop, which soon became an internationally recognized institution. Deyrolle then began supplying schools with specialized books and materials, as well as educational charts depicting the fauna and flora that adorned classroom walls for more than a century.
In 1888, under Émile’s direction, the establishment moved into a townhouse on Rue du Bac, in the very chic 7th arrondissement, where it remains to this day. Spread over two floors, the shop features wooden display cases framed in gold leaf and walls painted in sea-green tones. On the ground floor, devoted to the garden, insiders know to take the staircase to enter a world apart, populated by bears, giraffes, zebras, and lions… all stuffed. Many of these animals were donated by zoos after their deaths, in accordance with the Washington Convention on endangered species — a truly educational approach.
At Deyrolle, you don’t need to be a child to marvel! This Parisian cabinet of curiosities is a true treasure trove of discovery and inspiration. Indeed, many great artists have walked its aisles: Hubert de Givenchy loved its unique aesthetic; Maurizio Cattelan once ordered a headless horse there; and Salvador Dalí found inspiration in these surroundings to paint The Boat with Butterfly Sails.
Competing with national museums and devastated by a fire in 2008, Deyrolle was reborn after being acquired by Louis Albert de Broglie. This magical place now hosts exhibitions, cocktail parties, and fashion week events. Like its collection of animal curiosities, Deyrolle’s renown is eternal.
