terrible work by taxidermist
I recently picked up a quail that was very poorly mounted. One eye is skewed, the top knot was straightened, feathers are missing on the back.
When I picked it up, the taxidermist recognized the poor work, and gave me a discount. The mount is terrible, and I'm wondering if I should've left the mount there and lost my deposit. What's the best approach when a taxidermist does substandard work?
My approach may not work for you but here's how I would handle it. I'd ask the taxi this question: "Since you ruined my mount and because this is something I cannot display...which would you prefer? Reimburse me my deposit and keep this bird as a training tool to remind you of the cost of bad taxidermy or keep my deposit and watch how many negative company reviews I can post to the internet in one night?"
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
+1 for wheres Bruce
Since he discounted it for you, you obviously discussed it with him. Did you give him a chance to make it right? Perhaps it's salvageable; didn't you really want a mounted bird all along?
../|. ,[____],
l---L -=O|||||O
()_) ()_)-~--)_)
Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?
Next time just take pictures. It saves me a ton of money, I have the memories to share with others, and I don't have dirty animals all over the house to clean. Bring the meat into the house and leave the rest outside! LOL I
I wouldn't have left there with it. I like what Bruce said.
All is for nothing, if not for GOD.....
"Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me"
Actually, we didn't discuss it all. The taxi could see that I wasn't impressed, and sheepishly knocked off 50 bucks without me prompting her. It was sort of surreal. I asked why the feathers looked so crappy, and she said that it was missing feathers from the start. Funny thing is that when I brought it in initially, she asked me if I scared it to death because it was in perfect condition.
I really wrestled with walking away from the deal, but ended up paying her because I sort of felt like there's an implied understanding that taxidermy is an art, and what you get reflects the artist. But at what point do you reject the work entirely? I can't display this quail. It just looks silly.
I didn't consider whether it could be fixed or not. The skin would have to be remounted for the eye to look right, and I guess I assumed that wasn't possible with such delicate skin.
Just wondering what the proper "etiquette" is for poor work. I know I'm not the first to experience this.
Etiquette does not apply to business. You paid for one thing and got another. I would not have paid her anything...you need to grow a sack man. Take it back and tell her it's too pitiful to display and that everyone is making fun of it. Ask if it can be redone, if she says no then say "I want my money back...because this is not a mount I can display, it is horrible. Don't make me post photos of your work online with a negative review."
Why pay for something you cannot be proud of? Makes no sense.
Last edited by Where's Bruce?; 05-22-2012 at 02:31 PM.
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
Bald patches on the backs of upland birds are common in late season. When brought to the shop, they tend to be frozen, and the folded wings hide the patch. The fact that she gave the bird a positive appraisal at the time of drop off probably means she has little upland experience. Late season waterfowl can have the same problem, especially wood ducks. When she started work on the bird, she should have contacted you to give you the choice of not proceeding, or choosing a pose which would hide the defect.
Another concern is the top knot. Top knot feathers are often straight when first thawed, but regain their shape after a good washing and complete drying. I doubt that the bird was washed, which is taxi 101. If the bird wasn't washed, then the skull wasn't washed, which leaves more opportunity for future rot and insect infestation. Give the head a sniff, there should be no offensive odor. If it stinks, dump it quick. It will attract vermin will may find their way to other mounts in your house, if you have any.
As for the skewed eye, skin can be re-hydrated, and adjustments made, but only if the eye isn't set in bondo or epoxy, and the skin isn't superglued. My guess is she used the real skull, and things got pushed out of shape during assembly. Quail are delicate critters, and quail skulls quite fragile to work with.
My advice is hindsight, never take home an unacceptable mount. You agreed to a discount, consideration changed hands, contract fulfilled. If I were you, I would take the bird back and give her the chance to fix it, or to make it right by refund. I would probably not accept a "free" future mount, considering the lack of quality and her obvious lack of experience...then I'd find a new taxi. 2 cents.
If the top knot and eye were fixed, would the mount be acceptable?
Would you mind showing some pics of the mount?
Last edited by Atwater; 05-22-2012 at 05:26 PM.
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
Ok. Here are the pics.
I guess it could be worse.
00small53500009.jpg
Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.
The U.S. city with the most restrictive gun laws in the nation, Washington, D.C., has the highest murder rate at 24 per 100,000. The state with the most unrestrictive gun regulations, Vermont, has the lowest murder rate at 0.48 per 100,000.
thats what i was thinking. what so bad about it. Ive shot plenty of birds that look that way.Originally Posted by Where's Bruce?
All is for nothing, if not for GOD.....
"Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me"
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
I have to say I was expecting a lot worse. The eye and top knot issues are easy to explain. Shrinkage is inevetable when cleaning a quails skull. Borax is used liberally in the removal of eyes, brains, etc.. It the skin is not kept moist, it dry's quickly, and shrinks. When the skin is pulled back over the skull, with the eyes set making the fit even tighter, no room is left for "taxing" the skin. As the scalp shrinks, it pulls the eye holes higher, making the eyes in the skull too low, as in your mount. When setting eyes it's paramount to adjust for some shrinkage.
Here's a reference pic. Notice the feathers near the beak standing up, just like the top knot.
QuailRef.jpg
The technique that may help your bird would be to re-hydrate the head using a syringe. It's a slow process, but it may be possible to loosen the skin enough to adjust the top knot, and possibly pull that eyelid down a hair.
Don't be too hard on your taxidermist, this usually happens when someone spends too much time making sure the skull is clean. She's got some things to learn...but hell, who doesn't...
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
Thx for the feedback guys. It helps align my perspective.
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
If she doesn't know how to re-hydrate the head, have her call me, my number is on my website. I'll walk her through it. No charge, but no guaranties...
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
Where's Bruce, that's classic man...the life is in the eyes, everything else is Haxidermy...
Last edited by Atwater; 05-24-2012 at 11:44 PM.
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
Shoutout with an Atta-boy! for Scott. That's not only a generous offer of assistance, but your perspective on the true nature of the quality is great. I've always said that I like to hang out at JHO because of the high quality of the members and Atwater is exemplary in this post.
../|. ,[____],
l---L -=O|||||O
()_) ()_)-~--)_)
Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
Hey Belch, belated thank you my friend. It was a valid complaint...deserved a valid explanation. Hope it all turns out well...
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
Thanks for the advice and the offer, Atwater. Wish you were nearby. I'd take my next one to you.
Purt near but not plumb
Kiss The Ring
No worries dthome, not mining for work, just helping a brother, and a sister, out. My industry takes a kick in the nuts everytime a bad mount leaves a shop... It's in my best interest to help out when I can. There are at least a couple dozen top quality avian artists in California...find one that satisfies your needs, close to home, they're there.
Last edited by Atwater; 05-29-2012 at 10:40 PM.
"Thank God they are not as intellegent as we who kill them, although they are more noble......and more able."
Earnest Hemingway, "The old man and the sea"
"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have"-Thomas Jefferson
"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth." Steve McQueen
srjenningstaxidermy.com
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