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Friday, November 15, 2013

Finding High Quality Taxidermy Animals For Sale

By Bonnie Contreras


Anyone thinking of buying one of the assortment of taxidermy animals for sale should use the resources of the internet to learn as much as possible about techniques and how to select high quality mounted specimens. 'Mounting' vertebrates, not 'stuffing' them, began as part of natural science but became an art form. Of course, 'art' can be magnificent or amateurish. Avoid sending money off for inferior products by proceeding cautiously.

The Egyptians would often place a preserved animal or two in a tomb along with the mummy and all its funerary possessions. This, however, was not the work of a taxidermist but of an embalmer. People continued trying to preserve animals, often for scientific reasons, and the first guides to actual taxidermy were published in the 18th century.

Using the skin and bones only, the taxidermist either tries to present the subject in a lifelike manner or departs from reality entirely by ending up with a creature from mythology or fantasy. During the Victorian age, people flocked to see exhibitions of animals like the platypus, as impossible-looking as any dragon or unicorn. Because hoaxes were common, many didn't know what to believe. Homeowners began to decorate with trophy heads and even 'saved' beloved pets.

Improved techniques and materials helped early twentieth-century taxidermists bring this craft to an art form. Their method of stretching a skin over a padded wire form is used today, as well as more modern polyurethane shapes. Truly realistic specimens of snarling cougars, rampaging elephants, and birds of prey can be seen at natural history museums and roadside exhibits. Glass eyes and replicas of fragile body parts help make the illusion convincing.

Beautiful blue swordfish or vivid rainbow trout mounted on the walls of homes or public places appear to be the real thing. However, the skin of fish is very fragile, so the trophy is usually a carefully crafted, precisely measured replica. The fiberglass or resin sculpture is painted with care, and a spectacular catch is commemorated while the original was either released or enjoyed for dinner.

As with anything that requires skill, precision, and the right tools and materials, there's a risk of getting poor work when you want craftsmanship. Try to see the actual object before finalizing the sale. You should be able to judge the quality of work fairly well if it's in front of you. Check things like the nose and ears, which are particularly difficult to handle. A photograph, however, can be deceiving, and flaws might not be obvious.

Visiting photo galleries online is fun and can help choose the perfect piece for home or business. For example, predators are often depicted at bay or at the moment of attack, but poses of them at rest or play are enchanting and just as typical of animals in the wild.

Check out taxidermy animals for sale if you want a striking display piece. You may be decorating a man cave or a bar, for instance, and want something more distinctive than a neon sign. Many people like to delve into fantasy and get a Jackalope, a unicorn, or a griffin. The sky's literally the limit with this art form.




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