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Bring the Wild Inside: The Safari Lifestyle

safari lifestyle vignette

 

 

Bring the Wild Inside: Safari Lifestyle

 

Since January is the time for all the huge Safari Expositions across the country I thought we would revisit a post I did for the Women’s Outdoor News on how to Bring the Wild Inside with Safari Lifestyle!  You can read my full post at the WON archives: http://www.womensoutdoornews.com/2015/06/tips-from-rita-schimpff-on-the-art-of-the-safari-lifestyle

The following vignette I made from vintage family sporting memorabilia, books and letters, it was used by Safari Club International for convention advertising.

safari lifestyle vignette
vintage safari vignette by Rita Schimpff for Heritage Game Mounts

 

 

Rita Schimpff of Heritage Game Mounts next to 'Tusk' by John Banovich at convention
Rita Schimpff of Heritage Game Mounts next to ‘Tusk’ by John Banovich at convention

 

 

 

African Antler Display by Heritage Game Mounts
African Animals displayed with natural linen and an ornate panel of oak leaves & acorns – all by Heritage Game Mounts
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Hunting Lodges that Inspire

Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch - fabulous taxidermy

Hunting Lodges that Inspire

Lodges that inspire more than the Hunt

Be it Fin, Feather or Fur – I think the decor of a hunting lodge should be as inspiring as the hunt!

Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch - fabulous taxidermy
Stack stone fireplace at Trinchera Ranch – fabulous taxidermy in Colorado

We are over at the Women’s Outdoor News with a new post:

http://www.womensoutdoornews.com/2015/09/how-to-lodge-decor-to-inspire-the-hunt

Antique sporting art inspires the colors for this handsome room at Mississippi's Longleaf Plantation
Antique sporting art inspires the colors for this handsome room at Mississippi’s Longleaf Plantation
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Victorian Taxidermy – Fit For a Queen

Victorian Taxidermy -Queen_Victoria, John Brown and 'Fyvie' ,_photographed_by_George_Washington_Wilson_(1863)

 Victorian Taxidermy becomes Fashionable

Teddy Roosevelt and other big game hunters began to commission Victorian taxidermists to preserve their trophies artfully
Teddy Roosevelt and other big game hunters began to commission Victorian taxidermists to preserve their trophies artfully

Victorian Taxidermy came alive during the Victorian Era (1837-1901) when wealthy hunters, like Teddy Roosevelt, began to commission taxidermists such as Roland Ward to preserve their trophies for their fashionable libraries and sitting rooms.

Victorian horse hoof silver inkwell ca 1878 at the Cantor Arts Center- Stanford University
Victorian horse hoof silver inkwell ca 1878 at the Cantor Arts Center- Stanford University

Trusty pets were honored in functional items of taxidermy to be placed among the sterling & cut glass.

Read more about how anthropomorphic taxidermy started a fashion trend on our post over at the Women’s Outdoor News

womens outdoor news

 

 

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Traditional Antlers vs Artistic Antlers

I am a big fan of traditional antler mounts—I own them.  I am a big fan of artistic endeavors–I am an artist.  I am a big fan of vintage anything—after all, I am a little vintage myself!  Every now and then vintage gets a little too grungie-even for me and needs a little help……..But when is artistic taken too far?  Or not far enough?

 

Creative alternative mounts at Bergdorf Goodman - NY
Creative alternative mounts by Frederique Morrel at Bergdorf Goodman – NY

A friend sent me the above photo of artistic antlers from her trip to New York over Thanksgiving as well as the one below……. and thanks to Suzie at Urban Country Style http://urbancountrystyle.com she identified the beautiful deer damask paper from Barneby Gates http://www.barnebygates.com

 

Needlepoint and feather lashed hibrid deer at Bergdorf
Needlepoint and feather lashed hibrid deer at Bergdorf

 

I like to work with new and vintage antlers and create a custom look – I have worked with fabric on my Black Forest style mounts for clients too- but just a little more traditional in my approach.

roe1

 

I have found that many hunters and designers are looking for an elegant way to display their trophies – I have worked with tartan……

Roe deer on tartan insert into the Heritage Game Mounts "Legacy Panel"
Roe deer on tartan insert into the Heritage Game Mounts “Legacy Panel”

and linen…………

IMG_4234

   and monograms…………

Harber5

mono2

   and nail heads…………

linenroe

 Is there room for creativity in the traditional antler mounting world….what do you think?