Exotic Upholstery.

[LabelKing]

I like exotic things made into useful items; Henri IV's cradle was made out of an entire tortoise shell so why can't we have beautiful things too in this wildly PETA-oriented age? I imagine hippo hide would make a great material for a sofa or for the top of a desk. An elephant hide would be fantastic for a desk chair; actually they do have elephant foot stools:

Something basic like this which reminds me of a mildly decadent Colonial Frenchman:

Or this "Dodo Chair" by Michel Hallaird:

Maybe a Safari Luncheon?

 

[SoCal2NYC]

I always wanted something made from Otter. I'm surpised I never did living in Monterey Bay nearly my whole life and knowing a few taxidermists.

 

[Thomas]

One of the folks here just took possession of a full zebra hide. No comment yet what she plans on doing with it, and given her imagination and savoire-faire, I see it languishing in a pile of other things bought and unused until she finally sends it off to have someone use it to upholster the new toilet seat for her trailer.

 

[dkzzzz]

Thouse Zebra or Pony hides would fit the best with armchairs or ottomans. Those hides are best paired with something minimalist and modern. Juxtaposition of Zebra-hide with antique styles from 18-19 century looks to me too kitschy and forced.
That elephant leg is just disgusting, IMO.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

I always wanted something made from Otter. I'm surpised I never did living in Monterey Bay nearly my whole life and knowing a few taxidermists.

I imagine otter skin would make a good hardy covering for say, doors. I've always liked the idea of leather covered doors.

Or perhaps patent leather walls with stamped gilt decorations.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by dkzzzz

Thouse Zebra or Pony hides would fit the best with armchairs or ottomans. Those hides are best paired with something minimalist and modern. Juxtaposition of Zebra-hide with antique styles from 18-19 century looks to me too kitschy and forced.
That elephant leg is just disgusting, IMO.

I'm reminded of the Barcelona chair covered in "pony-skin" which is misleading since no ponies were involved; it's only cow-skin.

 

[SoCal2NYC]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I imagine otter skin would make a good hardy covering for say, doors. I've always liked the idea of leather covered doors.

Or perhaps patent leather walls with stamped gilt decorations.


Are you thinking of Sea Lion (also a Monterey Bay denizen)?

I was thinking of a nice Otter pelt.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC

Are you thinking of Sea Lion (also a Monterey Bay denizen)?

I was thinking of a nice Otter pelt.

I imagine otters also have some sort of leather underneath the fur; seals do.

I imagine sea lion hide looks like walrus.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

Whale testicles were used to cover bar stools, on the Onassis yacht: Christina.
Shock value aside, when used with skill and purpose, exotic upholstery can provide a raw sensuality and mysterious allure to a room's decor.

 

[drake]

Ugh, disgusting on a visual and mental level. The first one is especially disturbing.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

The Contessa Cassati's palace library included volumes bound in human skin.

 

[odoreater]

So far every picture posted in this thread has been hideous and gauche. And I'm not talking about anything PETA-related, this comment is from a purely aesthetic point of view.

 

[Ivan Kipling]

Norma Desmond's Isotta Fraschini was upholstered in leopard, which I thought looked jazzy. Swanson wore a number of leopard patterned numbers, during the movie.

 

[imageWIS]

Originally Posted by drake

Ugh, disgusting on a visual and mental level. The first one is especially disturbing.

+1

Jon.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by imageWIS

+1

Jon.

How do you feel about taxidermy?