From a Giraffe

If you would have very little room for your tophies, what would you take from a Giraffe?, Skull mount, tail...pictures

nsok

here is my plan for next year.
the neck will be made into a flat skin that i will use on my desk top.

Body will be trimmed and made a flat skin for the couch (tail included).

i do not plan to keep the skull. I have seen some bleached skulls that are just place around the room on the floor or on the second shelve of a end table and they look great.

Tail

The leg bones are great if you are into that,.

Thanks James

The leg bones can be carved into a nice piece of art. The skin is good for the sides of a pedestal mount for something else. I think the hide would make a nice looking hair on soft gun case, but I'd ask someone in Africa how it would hold up.

Bert

I saw the rifle case also and was thinking the same thing that it will make a great rifle case.

Originally Posted by Bert the Turtle

The leg bones can be carved into a nice piece of art. The skin is good for the sides of a pedestal mount for something else. I think the hide would make a nice looking hair on soft gun case, but I'd ask someone in Africa how it would hold up.

Well that's a excellent question. I would like a giraffe mount with just the head and part of neck....probably a wall pedestal mount. The rest of the animal could be used as a flat skin for a couch or floor rug.

I'm not sure I'd do it, though, due to shipping costs. I'll have to think about it...before the next trip...I might just have a flat skin done. I know a few people in the city I live that would love to own a giraffe flat skin, maybe they could share in my costs.

Here are the Giraffe trophies I took.

Why not have a neckace made up of the tail hair. They make beautiful pieces. The tail hair is strong, not as thick as elephant hair. The hair is black and if you have a few nicely cut stones or small diamonds worked into it it looks fantastic. That is if you do not want the tail and are using the other parts.

Do you have any pictures...My wife would be into that..

Originally Posted by Baobab

Why not have a neckace made up of the tail hair. They make beautiful pieces. The tail hair is strong, not as thick as elephant hair. The hair is black and if you have a few nicely cut stones or small diamonds worked into it it looks fantastic. That is if you do not want the tail and are using the other parts.

How suitable is a Giraffe's hide for "flat" rug type applications? I once watched a video of a Giraffe skinning and it seemed the hide was unusually thick and spongy. Can it be thinned down to make it usefull for rug like use?

Shot one in Namibia a while back actually food for the San people. Don't think I'd do it again

No but I can try and get some. I saw 2 made up in Swakopmund. It look exquisite!
I will see what I can do.

The hide is thick on the back of the animal about half an inch thick.It is not spongy at all.
the belly area is quite thin.I helped to skin one once. It took us 5 hours in the bush with 5 men. We subsequently sin them at home and it takes about 3 hours. The skin alone weighs about 120kg. wet.If you have a rug made up get a good tannery to do so. The skin is not that big. It appears large but you are fooled as the legs are so long. The bones make good inlays for knives. Use only the leg bones for this.

Right eventually found what I was looking for.
The places name is African Art Jewellers cc
Email: info@aajewell.com.na
Ask them about the Giraffe Tail Hair. They have made beautifull articles.
Good luck.

Hi Nsok

Should space be a problem I would do the following:

1 Make a flat skin once you have done this it would be up to you if you would like to keep the skin whole should that not be the case you can always use the skin for decoration on pedestal mounts and put them on the side panels? Have them make a gun case out of the rest.

2 I would carve the femur bones as an example they can carve the big 5 out inside of the femur it might be wise to use them as legs for a table then just get a glass top and there you have it a nice coffee table made out of giraffe leg.

3 I would have the skull bleached and put it in my office or maybe on that giraffe femur table that should look pretty interesting.

4 The tail I would have them make into a fly swatter like the Zulu Witch doctors have it will make for a pretty good piece on a table somewhere in your office or home?

Just drop Frikkie a mail he will be able to help you with all of this.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Thank you very much Louis. Many options!

Hi Nsok

I am happy to be of service!

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen