I just got a wild hair for a pedestal mount for my 2 impalas. Has anyone ever had a wrought iron pedestal made? If so, how did it turn out and can you post pictures? If not, I am open to any suggestions that you care to give. What my thinking is ,is to have a free standing outline of Africa and 2 arms that come up and show my impalas squaring off as to fight. Any and all suggestions and other ideas would be appreciated. Let me know what the other AR's experience has been and what you think of this idea. Jerry Hoover

It sounds very creative and I would love to see it, but I can't quite visualize it.

I like the sound of it too, but can't quite picture it.
I could actually build that (as opposed to the typical wood pedestals).
Hopefully someone will post something similar... otherwise you'll have to be the pioneer Jerry.

Kyler

I talked with a friend of mine who does metal sculting and he thinks it can be done. I also talked with my taxidermist and al though he has never heard of it being done, he is willing to try. Since we are all novices at this, what I thought I might do is post some sketches of my ideas and see what y'all think. What my major goal is to come up with something unique to honor the animals I took. Both of the impalas I took were battlescarred veterans and had a long and fulfilling life. I want to honor their memory,courage,and show the respect that they deserve. I will post sketches and ideas as they evolve. Hopefully I will have some basic ideas for comments soon. Jerry Hoover

Jerry

That sounds like a super idea!! Wow!! I can smell the wood burning!!

Now you got it in my head, I may have some ideas for you, let me play with them a few days then I'll PM you........

Hello Widowmaker, I am looking forward to any ideas you may have. Being a Special Ed. teacher, I have access to some reasonably artistic people. I have discussed my ideas with a couple of them and those who are not bunny huggers are enthused and have made some preliminary sketches. All I can say is so far so good. If I had any artistic talent, Iwould post them and see what suggestions other people might have. What has evolved so far is a triangular base with a cutout of Africa on each side of the triangle. To fit in my house, I need the pedestal to be able to go into a corner. I am still working out the details on the arms will go, but it sounds like fun to play with how the arms will come out and how the heads will be mounted. I have discussed this concept with my taxidermist and he assures me he can mount the impalas showing the degree of aggression I want. Time will tell, but again any/all suggestions will be appreciated. Jerry Hoover

I have a customer in Austin who is wanting this very thing for some pedestal mounts I did for him, could you PM me the info on your guy who does the sculpures?

hello Jerry, I tried to send you a PM, but my computer is having either a brain fart or a " not tonight Dear, I have a headache." Give me a PM and I will try to reply. I am reluctant to post his name and phone number on an open forum. The art teacher at the school where I teach as made some crude preliminary drawings, but I think the concept has promise. I am thinking of an equilateral triangle with an African outline on each side. I am considering putting in a wood top and having some flora that resembles Africa on it. Luckily the flora in South Texas bears a great resemblence to the flora in the Limpopo province of RSA.I will post some detailed sketches as they become available. Holler back at me soon and I will do the best I can to help our client in Austin. By the way , I live just north of Austin and would be happy to talk to your client and help anyway I can. Jerry Hoover

I don't know what I am going to do with my Waterbuck trophy and would be very interested to see what ideas come forth. Good luck!

OK, here is what is happening so far; the art teacher at my school is getting very interested in this as an artistic endeavor. he can supply the artistic talent that I so sorely lack. I can conceptualise things in my my head, but between mind and hand something gets seriously lost. I should have by early next week some decent sketches to post and then i am open to any/all suggestions that may be posted. Since this is new idea, all suggestions/criticisms will be welcome. I am sure there will be difference of opinion as to what is esthetically pleasing, so please let us be TEXAS-like gentlemen as this project goes forward. Speaking personally, the only person that I want to be pleased out of whatever ideas/suggestions that are posted here is me. Since this has never been done before, let's have fun with it and see if we can devise another way to honor the animals that we so dearly respect. Respectfully, Jerry Hoover

Give me a pm, if you need someone to fabricate it for you.

Hog Killer

Jerry, this sounds like a neat project. I would try and keep the base simple so that it does not detract attention from the mounts. I think a simple black metal outline of africa would work ok as long as it is not too big and fancy. Also the main advantage to a pedestal mount is that it can be viewed from all sides. To do a custom mount like this and put it in the corner would be a shame. I would start moving some furniture.

You may be right. like I said this is a work in progress. The interesting thing here is to explore all options and see what shakes down. I talked to my metal working friend tonight and he is more than interested. Sometime within the next few days I will try to post some preliminary sketches for the forum's perusal and get some other ideas. This is beginning to be fun. If anyone else has any creative ideas, I would like to hear them. Jerry Hoover

New ideas are being formulated.I have a new idea for a combination wrought iron and traditional pedestal mount.God willing and the floods don't rise, I will have some sketches posted soon. If any of you have ideas please post them along with any sketches you may have.This is starting to become interesting. One question I have is how to maintain a lower center of gravity on a pedestal to make sure it is stable? Anyone have some suggestions? Jerry Hoover