When Anna heard that September marks the start of deer hunting season in many parts of the country, she thought it would be fun if I did a post on taxidermy-inspired decor. Why fun? Because I’m a proud vegetarian. As you would expect, I don’t display any hunting trophies in my home. (No tofu trophies either.) But after looking around my favorite blogs and sites, I’ve changed my mind. (Briana almost converted me two months ago.) I do want animal taxidermy on my walls. A rhinoceros head. Deer antlers. Maybe even a dinosaur head or two. Faux taxidermy, that is. I present to you two galleries of my favorite faux taxidermy finds — one for children and one for us adults — that are colorful, whimsical and creative. Even the most advanced hunters can’t say they have a unicorn, dinosaur or mustached moose head on their wall. And the best part of it all? You can make one yourself without leaving the comfort of your home.
For Kids:
1. Plush Deer Head :: Etsy / PlanetFur 2. Taxidermy Pinata :: Skunkboy Creatures 3. Curly-Horned Antelamb :: Etsy / horribleadorables 4. Mr. Deer Moose-Stachio Trophy :: Etsy / aircreatures 5. Lady Elegant Teddy Bear :: Etsy / amyjoterry 6. Ester the Elephant :: Etsy / squackdoodle 7. Faux Rhino Head :: Etsy / PlanetFur 8. Snow White Buck :: Etsy / MisfitMenagerie
For Adults:
1. Faux Taxidermy Crow :: Anna-Wili Highfield 2. Savannah Rhino Bust :: Anthropologie 3. Violet Flowers Deer Head :: Etsy / hclaire 4. Rhinestone Deer Head :: Etsy / BeJanked 5. Floral Taxidermy :: Pinterest 6. Cardboard Fish :: Cardboard Safari 7. Inflatable Dino Head :: Urban Outfitters 8. Domestic Trophy :: Rachel Denny 9. Embroidered Taxidermy :: Yellowtrace Blog
What faux creature would you add to your home decor? Would it be exotic? Extinct? Or an everyday, backyard friend? (Check out this cool deer head DIY on the Chronicle Books blog.)
Tell us in the comments below.
Oh, golly! I love #8 in the Adults section. (Way clever to split it up like that, btw!) I spotted an oddly cool acrylic deer head at LVM. Which reminds me, I need to put together a post of my fave finds…
[...] Season Incites Cool Faux Taxidermy HGTV Design Happens Thu, September 1, 2011 8:30 PM UTC HGTV Design Happens Rate this story Share this story [...]
I'm still smitten Laura Lynnxe Murphy's cool resign sculptures. Have you seen the Deer head with eight eyes? Creepy-cool.
Pretty wild!
Oh, wow! That's crazy!
Not sure how i feel about it… as an animal rights activists does this inspire kids to think it's ok to have animal heads on their walls?
Hi Mary – I definitely see where you're coming from. For the kid-inspired faux taxidermy I was immediately reminded of plush stuffed animals more than anything else. And I think creating these whimsical creatures from felt and paper and adding flowers to their cheeks and polka dots to their ears helps draw the boundary between real and fake and okay and not okay.
Yeah, all of your examples have a certain whimsy that normal taxidermy lacks. I think there is a fairly clear line between this and promoting taxidermy in the mind of kids.
A stuffed unicorn trophy probably isn't going to inspire much realistic hunting, I would say.
The T-Rex head is cracking me up. Too fun! My little brother had a wooden moose head in his bedroom for several years. It was super cute. I might have to steal it from him.
I know it screams 'kid', but #7 in the adult section is my absolute favorite and I really, really want it.
Briana, big surprise, #8 was my favorite, too! Also, the Pinata Bust makes me laugh.
I think the Pinata Bust is brilliant!!! Wouldn't a wall of those be fun for a party!
@Marianne: You (we) have great taste!
I would have died to have that as a kid! I totally had a giant inflatable stegosaurus that it would have complemented well.
Sadly, these Vanishing Creatures Chocolates are no longer available for purchase, but they were the best idea for wall-mounted animals I've ever seen:
http://playfast.exblog.jp/7557592/
Five different endangered animal likenesses were sold (elephant and polar bear in addition to the gorilla, koala, and hippo shown), with proceeds going to support the World Society for the Protection of Animals. I wish they were still available, but then again I don't think they would ever make it to my walls! xD
Wouldn't make it to my wall either! Or, I'd look at them thinking, cool design but perfectly good chocolate is getting dusty…
[...] this design spotlight would prove too daunting a task for a vegetarian like me. (Last week, for the start of deer hunting season, I wrote a post on faux taxidermy in decor.) Nope. While wildlife officials debate the croc’s [...]
[...] this design spotlight would prove too daunting a task for a vegetarian like me. (Last week, for the start of deer hunting season, I wrote a post on faux taxidermy in decor.) Nope. While wildlife officials debate the croc’s [...]
very nice site, really had fun reading some of your post. thanks for the share.
Just came across this cool faux taxidermy created with pine cones and feathers: http://www.suzanfellman.com/collections/catherine…
A store called Pinata Safari is selling Pinata Taxidermy on Etsy…Super Cool!