Jenny Haniver - [Charm | Former Cryptid]

Regular price: $6.00
Sale price: $6.00

Jenny Haniver -

• About: Jenny Hanivers are dried Manta Ray or Sea Skates. - in the 16th century, they where Common taxidermies molded by hand to resemble basilisks, demons, dragons, sea monks, Bishop fish, mermaids & a variety of other mythical beasts. - They have been sold as souvenirs in curio-shops around the world to mystified tourists. - In more recent history, Jenny Hanivers have been mistaken for &/or been part of hoaxes regarding both Chupacabra & aliens as well.

• History: The earliest known illustration of a Jenny Haniver appeared in Konrad Gesner's Historia Animalium vol. IV in 1558 - he described how to make them & warned that they where just dried rays, the entry goes something close to as follows:

“In order to impress common people, apothecaries and others dry rays and twist their skeletons into all sorts of remarkable poses, making the animal look like a snake or a winged dragon. They twist the body, alter the shape of the head and mouth, and remove other parts or make them smaller. The lower part of the body is cut, and what remains is lifted, to make it look like the creature has wings.”

...Fast forwards about 447? years - In New Mexico, 2005. A Haniver was found buried in the desert and was mistaken for a 'Chupacabra' - Ultimately. it seems to have actually just been someones discarded lunch. (parts of skates wings are edible, but the rest is not.) - Regardless, It made front page news of the rio rancher paper.

I'm keeping this short because more information about hannivers are easily found in books, museums, online etc. - Hanivers are just too iconic not to include in my collection so there you have it.

[Jenny Hanivers for sale In Ise, Japan in 2006, image source.]

[a skate prior to being dried. ":D" ]

Art sticker by @samkalensky part of my cryptids and critters collection of stickers, follow me for many more!

Jenny Haniver - [Charm | Former Cryptid]

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