The Malm Whale: A Monumental Feat of Nineteenth-Century Taxidermy

The physical construction of this mᴀssive artifact showcases an unprecedented blend of biological preservation and structural engineering. The raw material came from a young, stranded blue whale measuring approximately 16 meters in length, which had run aground in the Askim Bay just south of Gothenburg. To preserve the specimen, the skin was carefully flensed from the carcᴀss and treated with a protective mixture of salt, alum, and arsenical soap to prevent decay. The underlying structural framework, mimicking the natural anatomy, was constructed using zinc plates, copper rivets, and a complex internal skeleton made of Scots pine and oak wood. The treated skin was then meticulously stretched over this hollow wooden frame and secured, with a hinged mechanism built into the upper jaw to allow the whale’s mouth to be opened and closed at will.

Functionally, the Malm Whale served as both a groundbreaking educational exhibit and a highly interactive public attraction. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the hollow interior of the whale was converted into a miniature luxury salon, complete with plush carpets, benches, and oil lamps. Visitors could pay a small fee to step inside the mᴀssive jaws and experience the sheer scale of the ocean’s largest creature from the inside out. However, this unusual public utility was permanently restricted in the mid-twentieth century following an infamous incident where a young couple was discovered using the secluded, dark interior of the whale’s belly for romantic trysts. Since then, the jaws have been permanently sealed shut, transforming the artifact from an interactive parlor into a strictly observed historical monument.

The acquisition and preservation of the specimen were spearheaded by August Wilhelm Malm, the renowned curator and zoologist of the Gothenburg Museum. Upon hearing reports of the stranded, dying whale on October 29, 1865, Malm quickly organized an expedition to secure the animal for scientific study. He purchased the carcᴀss from local fishermen who had killed it, and with the help of two steamships and three coal barges, successfully towed the mᴀssive creature into the city’s harbor. Over the next several months, Malm supervised a dedicated team of taxidermists, carpenters, and blacksmiths, documenting every stage of the grueling dissection and preservation process in detailed scientific papers, cementing the Gothenburg Museum’s international reputation in cetology.

Today, the Malm Whale transcends its original biological context to become an exceptional historical artifact of the industrial age. The meticulous craftsmanship required to stabilize and mount a biological specimen of this scale—long before modern synthetic polymers or preservation techniques existed—reflects the apex of nineteenth-century ingenuity. By preserving the literal skin of a marine giant on a custom engineered timber hull, Malm and his team created an enduring symbol of humanity’s historic desire to conquer, catalog, and comprehend the natural world, preserving a timeless monument of maritime history for over a century and a half.