Kortrijk taxidermist represents our province in ‘Ambacht in de Kijker’

“Craft in the Viewer” is a competition in which a candidate is selected for each province. The aim is to put the Belgian craft sector in the spotlight and thus promote crafts to the general public, and to make young people enthusiastic about this sector and its training courses.

Dead animals get a second life on Frauke’s table. The animals died of natural causes. Nature and Forest must give permission for protected species. Frauke is now working on a tree falcon that has crashed into a window and will soon serve as teaching material. But grieving animal lovers also come here with eccentric wishes. “A baby camel is one of the more special animals I received. But I also get other special assignments. Animals that I have to put on clothes or put in a human position. I once had to put a rabbit that had to read in a booklet. It had to sit in a chair with a table and a glass of whiskey and a cigar. I like doing that. It’s not always the same.”

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An all-rounder

As an animal and nature lover, the profession appealed to Frauke. But there is no training for that craft. A taxidermist is an all-rounder. From eviscerating rotten entrails to modeling with iron wire and straw. “The process of turning a dead animal back into a lifelike one takes a lot of time, patience and concentration, but every time it feels like the little bit of magic I can create.”

A real craft, therefore, with which Frauke has been nominated in our province for ‘Craft in the spotlight’. There are 10 nominees in total. They are now put in the spotlight through workshop visits and promotional videos and have a chance to win the main prize worth 3,000 euros, or the Prize Pearl of the Jury worth 1,500 euros. The winners will be announced in June.