I have a few antler mounts to do and I am wrapping the form with hair on tanned hide. Is it appropriate to add gold or black braid to the hide wrapped antler mount? I can't say it looks better with or without it, but it would make it quicker to use the braid instead of tucking the hide around the burs.I guess as long as the customer likes it, it shouldn't matter.
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The way that I prefer to do a hair-on antler mount is to never separate the skin from the antler burrs. This will only work if you have a whole, unskinned head. I skin around the ears, cut through the eyes, and down the bridge of the nose enough to take a bone saw and saw the skull cap off. Then I lift the skin away from skull cap everywhere but around the antlers. I wash it and treat with DP. Mount the skull cap to a pre-cut oval piece of plywood and fill around it with antler set (mache). Then staple the skin to the back of the plywood. I use a piece of metallic gold braid to trim around the base and then mount to an antler panel. I know this sounds like a lot of trouble but I can do one in less than an hour. I charge $100.00 for these. The only trim is around the whole base. I do not trim around antler burrs, even when I use velvet or felt. I have a pattern to cut the material and I tuck the material under the burrs and fit it tight. There is then no need to trim around burrs. To me trim around the burrs distracts from the overall appearance.
I hadn't thought of leaving the hide attached around the antler burrs. It won't help with the ones I have now, but maybe I will try it that way another time. I also have a pattern, but I haven't been able to get the hair just the way I want it. I'll keep practicing.
Thanks!