Above & Beyond
In January 2021, a client called asking if we could pull off the impossible. He was hosting an event at his house on March 20, 2021, and he wanted us to complete a large order, including a custom scene, for the occasion.
Stepping Up to the Challenge
The order, which included seven animals, was still waiting to be cleared into the US. To have the skins cleared, tanned, mounted, and completed by March 20 was no easy task.
We have been in the taxidermy business over 40 years, and our 90-Day Turnaround took us years to perfect. The process we use is specific, so we were not sure if we could make it work. Never wanting to back down from a challenge, we pulled together all our resources in an attempt to make the impossible possible.
The Order
The order included a Life Size Wolf, Life Size Markhor, Life Size Ibex, Marco Polo Pedestal Mount, Yak Shoulder Mount, and two Life Size Marco Polo arrived at our facility on February 2, 2021. Aside from the Yak Shoulder Mount and Marco Polo Pedestal Mount, the remaining five animals were all custom poses, which means the mannikins required alterations, including body manipulations, steel support rods, etc. In addition to the seven animals, I was tasked to design and create a one-of-a-kind custom scene with the Life Size Wolf chasing after the two Life Size Marco Polo.
We Finish the Hunt
In only 41 days, the entire order was complete. To complete such a large order in that short of timeframe (more than half the time of our 90-Day Turnaround) without jeopardizing quality was something I never thought possible. But we moved Heaven and Earth to pull this off and our team in all three departments (taxidermy, habitat, and finishing) rose to the challenge of pulling off this nearly impossible task.
Loading the Truck
On March 11, 2021, the trophies were loaded onto a truck. One of the client’s associates flew into Reno and drove the truck back home in time for the client’s event on March 20.
Rise to the Challenge
This was the first custom order that was completed in a timeframe that I had never thought possible. I am so proud of our team and what we were able to accomplish. When we received the phone call back in January, we should have told the client “No,” but instead, we rose to the challenge and pushed ourselves to make good on our promise and achieve our goal. At Animal Artistry, we will always work with you, the client, to exceed your expectations.
Client Response
Dear Mike, Stewart, and the whole AA team,
Thank you so much! I cannot adequately express how happy I am with my Tajikistan trophy mounts and the way it came about. That you got it done in 40 days is just astounding. We will have our big Covid-be-damned party-(outside with the mostly vaccinated, immune or young) with these stunning new mounts added to my trophy room. I will send you party pics.
The mounts are beautiful. The Marco Polo and wolf scene is exactly what I envisioned and is stunning. Taxidermy art puts stories, often multiple stories, in physical form. That these came in at the last possible moment, and that you cleared the way for them and got them done for this party, and that there is not the slightest indication that anything was rushed, adds so much to their story! The only way something like this happens is when everyone has a positive attitude and a can-do spirit. I really enjoy working with you all because of that, as well as admiring your exceptional skill and artistry.
We are working on placing them now. As soon as it is all in I will send you a photo.
Thanks again for an exceptionally demanding job well done,
Paul
