Landau Unveils New Mascot, Bjartur

As a small crowd gathered on Monday, Robert and Henry Landau carefully opened the large wooden crate along the sidewalk outside 102 Nassau Street. 

Moments later Bjartur- a taxidermied ram- was introduced to Princeton. 

"We welcome Bjartur on this chilly day in Princeton- a little transition from Iceland- as the new member our wool family," said Robert Landau, the third-generation owner of the store at 102 Nassau St. that sells woolen imports, coats and other clothing items.

The newest member of the Landau of Princeton family is regal and majestic. Hailing from Iceland, he is a worthy replacement for Lindi, the 37-year-old ram that mysteriously disappeared from downtown Princeton last summer. 

It wasn't an easy task to replace Lindi. 

Unable to find a taxidermist in the U.S. or Canada who would taxidermy a ram, the Landaus turned to a former business associate in Iceland. That associate, Thrainn Thorvaldsson, found a taxidermist in Akureyni, Iceland who was able to locate a ram close to Lindi's quality and appearance. 

The mystery of Lindi's whereabouts became somewhat of Princeton whodunit last summer. Weighing in at more than 100 pounds and sitting on a large rolling base, it too big to fit into a car or for one person to handle, Robert Landau said at the time. Many hoped Lindi's disappearance was a prank. 

But Lindi was gone, along with her thick white wooly coat, bright expression and giant curved horns of the Icelandic ram had greeted visitors to the woolen imports store and inspired many tourist photos for so many decades. 

Henry Landau said he believes Lindi was either taken as a prank, and then dumped, or someone stole it, realized how much it was worth and became fearful they could be charged with a felony. 

"Either way, I think (Lindi) is probably in a landfill, unfortunately," he said. 

With Bjartur now in Princeton, the Landaus plan to keep him safe, probably inside the store, rather than outside on the sidewalk.