Last one I promise! Here's a shot after the repair. I do wish though... the more I work with this pelt the more I desire to know how it came to be.. the stories it could tell of the African savannah and its long journey it has taken almost over 100 years ago...

A pelt I have been long wanting was a black backed jackal and even though I had seen many for sale, none really stood out to me until I came across this tattered pup. It's previous owner had made an attempt to hydrate the face to shape it better, only to have it start to tear like wet paper, tearing between the ears, several spots on the face, and severely along the neck and behind one ear. I paid and waited for its arrival, not knowing the gender or story that was to be told through the stamp on the inside.

Upon arrival I was stunned at just how petite a jackal really was. I had been planning on a small canine, but certainly not THIS small. I have a mink from a vintage stole placed next to it to show the comparison. I noticed immediately the feel of the leather, the grime on the ears, and the discoloration of the white that this pelt was not new. It was not taken within the past 50 years even. I dove deeper into my suspicions when I looked up the name upon the stamp:

"Tanned by
James L. Clark Studios inc.
Sculptor-taxidermist
New York"

According to the few sites I found, James L. Clark was a rather famous and well renown explorer, sculptor, and taxidermologist, starting his business in 1910, closing shop in 1941. In between that time though he had not only mounted up many pieces for President Theodor Roosevelt himself, but was the main lead for all taxidermy pieces in the American Museum of Natural History in NYC as well as many other things in his life. A lot more info on James himself and his work can be found here: http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/Ind.....427987AD9.html

Mr. Clark had brought back many african specimens on his travels to the safari. I am hoping that if I am able to track down the taxidermist that owned this originally I might learn even more cause I have a sneaking hunch that this pelt might be one of the pieces Mr. Clark himself may have brought back.

The cause of death is a little less of a mystery. Among the riddlement of holes and tears, there are threads that are far older than any recent work, stitching up a hole on the left brow above the eye and sewing together a much larger hole behind the right ear. My best guess? Bullet shot to the head. The hydrating had torn the stitch work behind the right ear free, weakening the ear base. Despite the age though, the tan still has a decent stretch to it, no fur is shedding, and all claws/paws are entirely present. The white may be yellowing a tad, but the golds and blacks are still strong.

All in all I am very excited to have found this pelt. To some it's a symbol of cruelty, others just a bit of fur and leather. To me, it's a story waiting to be told. This pelt has been repaired, the weak leather now backed with another skin to strengthen. It has been handled with care and respect so please be respectful in your words and do not leave hateful comments. It is a very old pelt far older than many of us here on FA. If you have actually read all of this you know how it died and how I got it. You know where it came from and how old it is. So please be mature and keep the rude opinions to yourself.