Three of my trophies

[browningbbr]

On Friday, I picked up 8 of 9 trophies from our hunt in South Africa last May. (Everything was complete except my wife's warthog. She was disappointed.)

Because of the way we are decorating the trophy room (to look like a hunting outfitter's office in the 1950's), I didn't want to go with the typical veneered pedestals for the mounts. Instead, I built old-fashioned "shipping crates" that I rolled around in the driveway to make them look well-traveled. I had stencils made using the name of all 3 firms that handled the trophies and put them on the crates.

My taxidermist got such a kick out of the pedestals, that he took photos to send to the customs brokerage and the company that prepped and packed the heads and hides. He was also nice enough to photo-shop them onto a dark blue background.

Since he sent me copies of the photos as well, I thought that I'd post them.

- browningbbr

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

I really like your concept browningbbr, and your trophies look amazing. What is the size on the shipping crates?

 

[browningbbr]

Jerome,

The crates are 24 inches on a side.

- browningbbr

 

[enysse]

They definitely are beautiful! Congradulations!!!

 

[TRAVEL EXPRESS]

browningbbr ~ Your trophy mounts are beautiful and I also like the look of the rustic crate pedestals. Is your wife's Warthog a life size mount?

 

[browningbbr]

Lori,

No, the warthog is a shoulder mount. So are the blesbok, impala, wildebeest and springbok. The zebra became a rug.

- browningbbr

 

[Scott Spencer]

Stunning and a very original idea!! Beautiful work by the taxidermist as well!!

 

[ndbwhnter]

Very original. I like it. Thanks for sharing and nice trophies too.

nd

 

[browningbbr]

Thanks to all. The taxidermist (Randy Mayes) really does beautiful work. I highly recommend him.

- browningbbr

 

[daggaboyblog]

Our development application is in for approval and then we hope to be building our house and the new trophy room. What does a hunting outfitter's office in the 1950's look like? I'm on the look out for a theme other "thatched safari hut" or the "cigar man on safari"!
Love the packing crate idea!

 

[Shavesgreen]

They look great, congrats!!

I can`t wait to see the finished trophy room

Charly

 

[browningbbr]

What does a 1950's outfitter's office look like? I'm using my imagination, but it's going to include stuff like this:

More shipping crates as end tables (already built)
Dark brown leather couch and chair (purchased last week)
Antique binoculars with a leather case sitting on end table
Old green accounts ledger book on desk
Spear & Shield (found some on ebay...)
Native carving or two
Painted Ostrich egg
1940's drop front desk (already had this)
Old rifle or sxs shotgun in the corner (need to find a "wall hanger")
1950's desk lamp with green shade
1950's floor lamp
1950's shotgun shell boxes and .22 boxes sitting on the shelf with a few paper shotgun shells
Coffee table that looks like a wooden rifle shipping crate (with pre-WWII vintage African maps under the glass top) - built this crate when I built the pedestals.

You get the picture... We've accumulated most of it already, but I'm sure there will be more small items as we go along. The hard thing to find (so far) is overhead track lighting that looks "Victorian". I want to put spot lights on the trophies. More sourcing is required to find the right lights. I have to do the lighting and painting before we go too far.

Anyone have suggestions?

- browningbbr

 

[merlin]

one of those old ceiling fans that is belt driven

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

browningbbr, Not from the 1950's but here are some pictures from Osa & Martin Johnson in Kenya from 1933 to 1935, I thought that you might perhaps find some interesting elements to integrate into your trophy...

 

[browningbbr]

Merlin - the belt-drive fan is a great idea. I found one for sale on-line, but after getting dimensions from the seller, I figured out it would not work in the room. My ceilings are only 7'-11". Darn! Maybe a vintage table fan....

Jerome - Thanks! The pictures have given me some more ideas. (More than I have space for - I'll have to be selective.)

- browningbbr

 

[bee keeper]

Maybe you find some ideas in this book:

Amazon.com: British Campaign Furniture: Elegance Under Canvas, 1740-1914 (9780810957114): Nicholas A. Brawer: Books

Not 50's but I bet some of the furniture in the book found it's way to the outfitters, and it is a great book anyway

 

[browningbbr]

bee keeper,

Thanks. I'll take a look at it. The latest addition to the room is a first edition copy of T. Roosevelt's "African Game Trails". My wife found it on ebay. Great reading - I read 2/3rds of it already.

- browningbbr