Who did it better?

[rookhawk]

One is my Steenbok from TCI in Bulawayo that was corrected/adjusted after I expressed concerns.

The other is Dennis Harris' work.

Both roughly the same price Net after all costs considered.

TCI is known to be the best taxidermy in Zim. Dennis is one of the best in the States.

(Blue background is TCI)

 

[Aaron N]

To close to call! I never get sick seeing Dennis' work.

Side note, has anyone north of the boarder ever looked into using him? Just curious how much the extra shipping and permitting would hit the wallet

 

[Buckdog]

To my eye not even close Dennis wins! But you are the final judge as they are your trophies So who do you say wins???

 

[BnC 04]

My pick is the one Dennis did. Just looks more "alive" to my eye.

 

[Buckdog]

View attachment 176231 View attachment 176230

One is my Steenbok from TCI in Bulawayo that was corrected/adjusted after I expressed concerns.

The other is Dennis Harris' work.

Both roughly the same price Net after all costs considered.

TCI is known to be the best taxidermy in Zim. Dennis is one of the best in the States.

(Blue background is TCI)

Rookhawk, should we ask dennis which he likes best

 

[jasyblood]

+1 for Dennis

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Here is one in the bush for comparison...

 

[rookhawk]

Rookhawk, should we ask dennis which he likes best

Glad you asked!

A partial quote:

From: Dennis Harris
Sent: Friday, 27 January 2017 7:33 AM
To:
Subject: Rookhawk's Safari


Then he's 2 for 2 TCI taxidermy in Zim trashed last Zim safari and he can't even look at the work it's grade D quality.

it's Horrible.

Sad so Sad.

Dennis Harris
The Artistry of Wildlife
www.artistryofwldlife.com



And a partial response from TCI:

I respect all of your comments and we will certainly take heed of what you were both impressed with and disappointed with. I have sat down with my finishing department today and discussed the lack of ‘fine art’ on the smaller detailed items. There is always room for improvement is any business and appreciate your honesty.

I am afraid I will not be able to reimburse you for the items you were disappointed in. When you next come out to hunt with Your PH we can discuss what you would like done and extend a discount for the returning business.


Look forward to seeing you again in Zim.


Best Cuan

 

[rookhawk]

And here is the work I saw in TCI brochure to compare my work to their advertised work:

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I quickly scrolled to the bottom after viewing the pics as I didn't want to be biased by others observations. But the comparison may be a little tough due to lighting conditions. However, it the first thing that popped out at me was the TCI animal looks like it received a bad application of lipstick, the mouth just looks wrong. So have to go with Dennis on that alone as the better of the two. Not to mention the hair on the neck/chest on the TCI animal looks scruffy and not smooth like I see in the live animal pics.

 

[rookhawk]

But the comparison may be a little tough due to lighting conditions.

I assure you and Cybil Shepherd that soft focus is doing its best effort above.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Oh...and the ears, not even close.

 

[rookhawk]

Oh...and the ears, not even close.

I wrote TCI:

Steinbok shoulder mount:
1. Terrible paint on nose and top of nose bridge. It appears there is little detail or differentiation between paint and fur. (maybe bad photo can account for some)
2. Ears in wrong position
3. Numerous fur imperfections
4. I ordered a shoulder mount but it looks like a “neck mount” as it is such a compacted mount
5. Tons of black paint all around the mouth and nose…extremely disappointing and sloppy.
6. Ears ill-defined and the fur/paint inside them looks lifeless

They said:

From: Trophy Consultants International <clientliaison@tci.co.zw>
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2016 at 11:45 PM
Subject: RE: IMPALA & STEINBOK SHOULDER MOUNTS


Many thanks for your email. Thanks also for pointing out the ear positions for the Impala and Steinbok, we can see what you are saying and we will rectify the position. Once this has been done we will take some photos of both mounts again and send them to you....

Thanks and Regards

Carol

Carol Bulling

CLIENT LIAISON OFFICER

Trophy Consultants International (T.C.I.)

(Formerly - Taxidermy Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd).

4 Josiah Chinamano Road

Belmont

Bulawayo

ZIMBABWE

Email: clientliaison@tci.co.zw.

taxient@mweb.co.zw

Web Site: www.tci.co.zw

Skype: caroltci

Tel: 263 9 73983 74356 73655 73593 73581

Fax: 263 9 75513

 

[wesheltonj]

@rookhawk, sorry on your African taxidermy. Yours does not look even close to TCI brochure. Maybe Dennis can fix it for you. Just glad I am getting Dennis to do my stuff. I know there are other great and good taxidermist out there, but I would hate to have to deal with the bad work.

 

[ArmyGrunt]

The TCI one looks kind of 'tarded. Poorly done eyes and mouth for sure. I agree it certainly like like a neck mount from that picture

 

[Dinsdale]

I'm biased....

The Steenbok by Dennis & crew posted above is mine and is sitting right here on my desk.

I think its terrific.

 

[curtism1234]

I've noticed many shoulder mounts (from steenbok to kudu) from Africa seem to be short a couple of inches. Shoulder mounts should not be rounded at the bottom, they should have "notches" where the shoulder starts on each side.

Either the forms they use are different or corners are often being cut (literally and figuratively)

 

[LivingTheDream]

Dennis nails the ears and overall you can tell is better quality just a quick look. I will say I feel like TCI did catch that "oh shit" moment in the eyes when you jump one up, so I kind of like that (not sure that was intentional). I love the position of Dennis's though.

 

[twilly24]

The one Dennis did is by far the better one to me. A better test would have been to post pictures without telling us who did either one. It amazes me people don't like his work. Or even compare his to African work that I have seen. IMO.

I hope Dennis can find the time to do a couple of my animals from my first Safari in June.

 

[rookhawk]

Here's the thing I've noticed about Dennis' work that is just better, not subjectively better. Dennis really pays attention to vein, artery, gland and collagen locations on his work. Also to the elasticity of certain skin areas when moved. Most African taxidermy looks like a cotton sweat sock pulled over a foot.

I like Dennis' style a lot, but even if you don't like his airbrush work or eyes or whatever, you have to appreciate that he is deeply concerned with subdermal nuances the real animal has.

His deer he did for me is the finest white tail I've ever seen. Not because it's mine, or because it's big, but because it's clearly an animal in the rut and 7 years old by how he structured the form. He expressed the age and season and state of the living animal correctly.