5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a South African Taxidermist
What is their experience level?
Finding the right taxidermist is very important to ensuring your trophies are in safe hands. Experience levels vary so look at the studio that has been in business for several years and has managed a large variety of species from around Africa. Ask what kind of work they specialize in and consider your list of trophies.
With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, Splitting Image Taxidermy is able to produce exceptional artistry and provide an experience Worth Remembering.
https://www.splittingimagetaxidermy.co.za/about/about-splitting-image-taxidermy
Do they specialize in a particular type of game?
Taxidermists are passionate about wildlife so ask them what their preferred species are. This will give you insight into their studies on these animals and the level of experience they have working on your trophies.
At Splitting Image Taxidermy, we specialize in all African game, from Dangerous down to the tiny ten. Our exposure to African wildlife makes our artists uniquely skilled to work on trophies from your African safari. Check out our projects page to view some of our work.
https://www.splittingimagetaxidermy.co.za/projects
Does the Taxidermist sculpt their own forms or only use commercial forms?
Your taxidermy is a long term investment. Working with a taxidermist that has the artistic capabilities to sculpt, alter, and create anatomically correct, lifelike forms will give you peace of mind that your trophies will look like the amazing animal that you harvested.
At Splitting Image Taxidermy, we sculpt our own moulds and produce our mannikins in-house to ensure they are lifelike and true to the African species.
https://www.splittingimagetaxidermy.co.za/vlogs/posts/60
Can they provide examples of past work or references?
Ask to see examples of their work, and some reliable references to speak with one-on-one. It’s important to feel confident that the taxidermist has the experience, knowledge and expertise needed to produce a quality piece from start to finish. Your outfitters will often refer you to reliable and professional Taxidermists.
To see some of our work, have a look through our projects page or have a look through our online magazine:
https://www.splittingimagetaxidermy.co.za/magazine
How long will my mounted trophy take to complete?
It’s important to understand the level of detail and quality that you can expect for the full mounting process. Your taxidermist should be able to provide a timeline for when you can expect your completed project, from the time it is initially brought in. You want to make sure they can finish in the necessary timeframe, or at least give you realistic expectations about how long it will take.
At Splitting Image Taxidermy, taxidermy is turned around in 12 months from down payment. Tanning of skins is a 6-month process and Dip & Pack takes 3-4 months. Our service team will keep you updated throughout the process and let you know as your trophies move through each step in the taxidermy journey. For more information about our timelines, check out our services page:
