Just got notice that my tanned zebra skin is almost done. I was going to hang it on my wall (in my house, with my pets, having it as a rug would end in disaster). But I'm wondering - is there any reason why I might want to have it felt-backed/lined?

I assume it will make it heavier as well.

Finally, how best to hang the skin on my wall? Something stick on the back, like command-strips, or is there another better way to hang it?

Thanks!

This is a matter of personal choice. If you were going to put it on the floor It should have a backing on it. I have one on my wall with no backing and it has held up well. The primary reason would be for aesthetics. Many think a trimmed out rug looks a little nicer.

The skin is more likely to wrinkle over time without a backing of some sort. Felt is not my first choice for a zebra rug. I prefer a narrow leather border with a durable backing like vinyl. Felt is a dust magnet and also slides easily on some floors.

I recommend tacks to hang it on the wall.

Mine on the wall has backing and I had leatehr sewn on the ends, it gave it a nice finished look, The one on the wall was put up with finish nails.

Whether it will hang on the wall or lay on the floor, you will want to have it stretched so it has a firm shape and is trimmed symmetrically. The border and backing help prevent the skins edges from curling. A stretched, tanned flat hide will start to curl over a period of time due to humidity (esp.in Fla.), climate changes in the home, etcetera.

Rolled or scalloped leather borders look very nice and a bit more classy on a zebra. I think borders give the rug a more finished look and do add a bit more weight and substance to them. It really depends on personal preference to go with or without a border.

If you have a backing on the rug, d-rings can be attached to aid in hanging. I have seen posts on here of some using tacks to hang a zebra on the wall, that has worked very well for them. If you do attach a border and use the tack method to hang, make sure the tack goes through the zebras leather and not just the border as the weight of the rug will eventually pull the border away from the skin.

Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Mary

Thanks, guys - I asked this in another thread (Hi, Mary!) but I'll ask here as well - can the backing be done after I get the skin over here? I like the idea of vinyl with leather borders.

BTW - here is a picture of the skin at the taxidermists:

quote:

Originally posted by JohnCrighton:
Thanks, guys - I asked this in another thread (Hi, Mary!) but I'll ask here as well - can the backing be done after I get the skin over here? I like the idea of vinyl with leather borders.

BTW - here is a picture of the skin at the taxidermists:

Yes I have a guy in Lakeland that does Aircraft Interior do my skins with felt and sews a faux Ostrich skin on the edges. I will post some pictures later.

From another thread a bit below this one:

Like PCS, I found the large-headed upholstery tacks work well and are easily painted to match.

In my case, the surrounding felt on the zebra rug is black, so I stuck the tacks into a piece of Styrofoam and sprayed them with flat enamel.



If there's no backing on the rug that provides an edge to fasten it, and you don't want to put holes in the skin, another option is a good quailty double-stick tape such as the type used for holding carpeting down.

Cut short lenghts of it and spread around the perimeter of the skin. Just don't remove any of the backing on the wall side until ready to fasten that particular piece to the wall.

Of course, the problem with the tape is removal. If you use it on sheetrock, it will likely pull off the paint & maybe the paper. So it will require a bit more patching than the tiny holes left by the tacks.

With either method, be sure to have a couple sets of extra hands! -TONY

Edited to add:

I've used the tacks on my bear rug (below) to hang it in five different houses over the last 40+ years with no problem. It has a double layer of felt around the edge, with black on the bottom and red on top. In this case, I was able to hide the tack heads by putting them under the red layer.



If you space the tacks about every foot, the weight on each one is very minimal and a lot less than if you use only a couple of D-rings fastened to the backing. Plus, if you want the skin to lay flat, the D-rings alone won't do it. The bear has them; that's why I went to the tacks.

Thanks, guys - this really helps a lot

John,

Looks like the zebra has already been stretched and trimmed. Was wondering why they didn't sew that tear at the base of the tail? Is the leather color bluish gray? Just wondering if it is chrome tanned.

You certainly can have the skin bordered and backed when it returns to the states. A leather border would look great, but I would rethink the vinyl backing. Although it would support the skin well, there are many other more porous materials that would as well. I would be concerned with the non-breathing vinyl on a wall in Fla. where the humidity is so high.

Tony is correct that tacks do help flatten the appearance of a hung rug, even one with d-rings attached. The d-rings help support the skin with the initial hanging and the additional tacks would smooth the rug out all over.

Kindest regards,
Mary

Wow, good eye there, Mary - I just noticed that gap/triangular piece missing at the base of the tail on the left side. I'm going to email the taxidermist and ask about that - maybe a trick of the light. Hoepfully they can repair that and get it looking like the right side.

I think I'm going to get it felt-lined over here and trimmed/edged with fake ostrich skin leather. There is someone an hour from me who will do it for a very reasonable price.

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Hilliard-Krueger:
John,

Looks like the zebra has already been stretched and trimmed. Was wondering why they didn't sew that tear at the base of the tail? Is the leather color bluish gray? Just wondering if it is chrome tanned.

You certainly can have the skin bordered and backed when it returns to the states. A leather border would look great, but I would rethink the vinyl backing. Although it would support the skin well, there are many other more porous materials that would as well. I would be concerned with the non-breathing vinyl on a wall in Fla. where the humidity is so high.

Tony is correct that tacks do help flatten the appearance of a hung rug, even one with d-rings attached. The d-rings help support the skin with the initial hanging and the additional tacks would smooth the rug out all over.

Kindest regards,
Mary

John,

That is definitly a tear that should have been sewn prior to stretching (unless the missing flap of skin is folded under the rug). It can easily be repaired with a patch. I would recommend trimming the zebra's right rump area nearest the tail up a bit more for a better symmetrical match to the soon to be repaired left side.

After you have the border and backing put on, check on the taxidermy forum for my directions on how to get the mane in an upright position.

That is a beautiful,large zebra and will be a fine addition to your trophy room. Looking forward to seeing a picture of it when it is hanging on your wall.

Kindest regards,
Mary

My bear rug has a backing. I went to walmart and bought some one inch plastic rings in the craft section. Using 30# test line, I sewed these to the backing, about 1 1/2" from the edge, and then used 6-8 picture hangers to hang the rug on the wall. This hides all the hardware used for hanging and has been sturdy for 4 or so years.

I would imagine a zebra rug wouldn't be any different.

Hope that helps.

I prefer a leather trim, and Carpet backing, such a s a heavy duty commercial carpet, it holds up very well.

Hey John,

I too much prefer the leather trim. I also prefer the head without the "side flaps/jowls".

Bob