Lion(ess) Question

[Hank2211]

I just received a shipment of trophies from my 2014 safari. I had most of the taxidermy done in Africa, and this gives rise to a question (a few actually, but let's start with this one)

On the lioness, I asked for a rug, with the mouth open. Well, the taxidermist cut the head off, and then re-attached the head to the rest of the skin with staples. Since this is a lioness, there is no mane to cover the line. As well, the staples used to attach the skin to the head didn't all hit the wood base under the head, and some stick up and out, so if you try to touch the "neck" you are liable to shed some blood.

Does anyone know if this is standard procedure? I had a male made into a rug some years ago, and they kept the skin in one piece.

I won't get into the fact that most of the claws are missing or broken (and they were on the skin when I left it), or that the skin is poorly glued to a very thin piece of felt (black, but almost see-through) with no padding . . .

A picture of the problem:

Thanks!

 

[Bert the Turtle]

It may be just the photo but the fur color looks a lot lighter on the neck and the color change occurs exactly at the cut line. Any chance there was some hair slippage somewhere and they created a frankenlion in an attempt to address the problem?

 

[harden]

Hank it's some typical garbage work. I don't think the head is detached just tightly folded to the rug form
The ear set is way wrong also, This one is just not blended into the neck real well, Heck it's not traction at all.
Can it be fixed, Yes, if you do it quickly and soon as the tan deteriates after timing If that head it attached and I would bet it is. just looks like it is cut
If you want my help on this let me know
Dennis

 

[Hank2211]

It may be just the photo but the fur color looks a lot lighter on the neck and the color change occurs exactly at the cut line. Any chance there was some hair slippage somewhere and they created a frankenlion in an attempt to address the problem?

I thought that, but it doesn't look like it. The hair does seem to go in the same direction, and it looks like the same parts. There was another trophy - a grysbok - where I think I did get a different head and body . . . not sure why.

 

[Hank2211]

Hank it's some typical garbage work. I don't think the head is detached just tightly folded to the rug form
The ear set is way wrong also, This one is just not blended into the neck real well, Heck it's not traction at all.
Can it be fixed, Yes, if you do it quickly and soon as the tan deteriates after timing If that head it attached and I would bet it is. just looks like it is cut
If you want my help on this let me know
Dennis

Dennis, thanks for this. I do think it's been cut off - my local taxidermist (who does great work but hates being in the middle of things like this) - thought that was what they'd done. Having said that, I have it here in a bag and will have a closer look.

 

[kathy]

I would be SICK , what a beautiful animal to have such shabby work done . Forrest

 

[Wheels]

Sorry about that Hank. I haven't seen it done like that before. Sure takes away from the lion. The average non hunter that sees it probably won't notice though.

If you have multiple problems from the same taxidermist you might consider posting their name as a caution/warning to other members here.

Bummer.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Looked up a couple that are for sale and it appears there is a similar issue on the second one.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Another example. w/o the issue.

 

[billc]

Yes I sure would like to know who did that work. Seems they made a few mistakes on your stuff and it may be best to say who did it so no one else has the same problems.

Really sorry to see and hear about the problems with your trophies

 

[Mekaniks]

Yes I sure would like to know who did that work. Seems they made a few mistakes on your stuff and it may be best to say who did it so no one else has the same problems.

Really sorry to see and hear about the problems with your trophies

+1 want to know so I don't use them. I would be SUPER pissed if my trophy showed up like that. A plane ticket to kick some taxidermist ass would be less expensive and far more fulfilling than trying to get a lawyer or giving the original taxi a chance to fix it.

 

[CAustin]

Hank it's some typical garbage work. I don't think the head is detached just tightly folded to the rug form
The ear set is way wrong also, This one is just not blended into the neck real well, Heck it's not traction at all.
Can it be fixed, Yes, if you do it quickly and soon as the tan deteriates after timing If that head it attached and I would bet it is. just looks like it is cut
If you want my help on this let me know
Dennis

Dennis you are always willing to help and I think you are to be commended! Thank you.

 

[Hank2211]

Thanks Brick for the pictures. I have to say, the one on the right - which looks like it has the same issue - doesn't look natural at all. That's the problem I have with mine. Doesn't look natural.

Moral of the story is have the work done closer to home.

 

[siml]

Hank, the head sure does look as if cut off.....that's the first time I have seen that done.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

Hi Hank,
Sorry about your experience on such a beautiful animal. Have to agree with Simon. Never seen it done like that, and nor should it be. Dennis of @The Artistry of Wildlife will certainly sort it out for you.

Take Care,
Marius Goosen

 

[billc]

just sucks to see you got burned like that but there should be more of the story told. Would be good for all to know who did the bad work. Bad work and good work can be done all over. It takes research to find the goods one or takes people talking about the bad work to find that out to.

 

[vinnymbogo]

All I can say Hank: what a shame! I've had work done in Africa that was excellent, and some shabby work done in Calgary (when I was young and foolish; when I didn't know the difference). Now I'll visit the taxidermist personally, as sometimes web pictures do not do the work justice (either good or bad). Good luck with the restoration!

 

[harden]

That second pic of Bricks is not cut off, the guy doing the rug just staples it to the form and doesn't let it flow into the rest of the skin.it's tight to the mannikin and not a gradual slope from the form to the rug

 

[BRICKBURN]

You would think the guy could manage to use a

and less staples.

Oh well.

 

[siml]

A nuke would have done less damage.