Friday, November 15, 2013

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.

By the early 20th century, practitioners achieved remarkably realistic effects with improved techniques and materials. The modern method is to stretch an animal skin over a form, which can be wire padded with wool or polyurethane foam. Anyone familiar with natural history museums knows how convincing displays of snarling predators, alert prey, or flying birds can be. Advances like glass eyes and replicas of fragile body parts help give the appearance of life and movement.

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.

To do the job well requires skill, painstaking attention to detail, and the right tools and materials. It's helpful to inspect the actual object before buying. Look carefully at the places where flaws often show, like the eyes, ears, and nose. If selecting from photographs(which can be deceiving), it's important to check customer reviews and contact them if possible. Ask for a satisfaction guarantee, and know the process that would be involved to get your investment back if paying online.

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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