#skullcleaning

[igatherthedead]

Last Deer Garland update (for a while) - today at 4 p.m. 💀🌿 . . Winter's colder temps slow down maceration & bacterial activity - which slows down our ability to clean bones. . . And because we collect bones from forests & roadsides they often need Lots of cleaning. . . We don't use harsh chemicals or soaps when cleaning (until the very end). Instead we focus on letting nature do her job. We use water, organic all natural soaps & time. . . We do use #hydrogenperoxide as a last step to whiten and disinfect the bones. . . Remember to treat your bones with care : 🚫 no boiling, 🚫 no bleach & no harsh chemicals - these methods can damage or weaken the bones. Check my highlights for #bonecleaning tips. . . . . . . . . #igatherthedead #igtdskulls #skullcollecting #skullcleaning #bonecollecting #bonecleaning #vultureculture #deertalisman #deathgoddess #deathpositive #darkaesthetic #heathensofinstagram #animism #witchyhome #bonemagic https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVq322P7sS/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[halfembalmed]

When I traveled to Germany several years ago I was enamored with the beautiful way skulls were displayed on intricately carved plaques, so I was thrilled last year when a client requested that their whitetail skull be displayed in a similar way. Skull cleaning/mounting was done by me on a beautifully carved wood plaque from an artisan in London ( will find the name and edit post to credit them.) . . . #europeanmount #euromount #whitetailskull #skullcleaning #classiceuropeanmount #taxidermy #taxidermist #deerskull #missouriwhitetail #missouritaxidermist #missouritaxidermy (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/CMw7CDcpNsL/?igshid=lqifffyukq7v

[vivulture]

The wolf skull

Have you ever seen a wolf skull? This is the one I'm working on currently. I have a deal with a trapper that if I clean the wolf and bear skulls he had and let him have the skull of his choice I could have the one he didn't pick as well as a large lot of skulls including the horse skull I have currently in peroxide. I already have a bear skull so I kinda hope he wants his bear skull so I can keep the wolf. The pictures below are of a wolf in comparison with a coyote.

[calathailea]

Two collections collide

Everyone knows I collect plants but did you know I also clean and collect skulls? Many people in my family and circle of friends hunt fish and trap. Many are also pagan or live a fairly paganesk life style and respect the lives they take. All of the animals killed are eaten and all parts of the animal are put to use. However, some parts are hard to make any use of, like the heads. That's where I come in. I take the heads of the animals from my hunter friends and clean the flesh and such off the bones. This is a huge process and in order to get museum quality it can take me over a year to clean one skull.

I do this not because I lack respect for these animals but because I love them just as much in death as I did in life. Cleaning these skulls is my way of paying tribute for their sacrifice and for feeding my friends and family. This cougar was hunted by my friend and was his first ever cougar. This is now something he will pass down to his son and so on. A new family tradition and I was apart of it. By cleaning this skull for him, it will last many years and his family and future generations will get to see where it all started every time they look at it. Death is an important part of the circle of life. I'm glad I can help honour it.

This is a cougar skull. Yes, he was eaten.

[chupacabracrafts]

Northern pike skull maceration progress, been digesting about 3 months. Originally I was going to take many more deatailed progress pics, but got bogged down with the virus lockdown, not being able to restock on gloves and rationing what was on hand. Meanwhile this big guy turned into quite the project. Here the bones have been separated by size, shape, and level of visible grease still on them… 🐟💀✨

[r0ts-skulls]

Some of my favorite pieces that are currently in my personal collection.

[kuro2091]

Well...that wasnt supposed to happen... off to the whitening bath I guess... #bonecleaning #vultureculture #bones #skullcollector #skulls #skullcleaning #animalbone #naturenerd https://www.instagram.com/p/BzmE8LSA-aA/?igshid=7jitzl56i0mu

[bloodmoonoddities]

Skull cleaning is a lot of work. #SkullCleaning #BeingBloodMoonOddities #Science #AnimalSkull #Ram https://www.instagram.com/p/CT5kE6Kpoh7/?utm_medium=tumblr

[taxtiles]

I’m back! Had a great time on the Shetland islands. Saw some great wildlife and geology. Lots of broch, wildlife I don’t usually get to see. I got loads of photos to get through so bare with me. In the meantime I’ve finished up this skull that was won at the Guild conference raffle and gave it a little scrub and mounted it on a wooden plaque for @brdwdwrd Will post some really cool footage of my trip very soon. #skulls #skull #mounting #roedeer #naturalhistory #taxidermy #antlers #deer #head #taxidermist #deermounting #skullmounting #skullcleaning #oddities #curios #nature #wildlife #taxidermyart https://www.instagram.com/p/CT17ey4qrJI/?utm_medium=tumblr

[deerbabyy]

Found this baby prairie dog skull yesterday 😵 During cleaning, it's nose broke, so I'll have to fix it when it dries 😰 Then to spruce it up, frame it, and throw it on my Etsy shop! 😋💖 . . . . #bones #prariedog #taxidermy #boneart #art #taxidermist #naturesarcanataxidermy #nature #baby #naturaldeath #reclaim #bone #skull #skulls #skullcleaning #creepy #morbid #ilovemyjob #prey #nature #beautiful #macabre (at Boise, Idaho)

[igatherthedead]

This magical & strange Alpaca skull will be available in the shop update on Friday. ✨💀 . . Did you know they have Fangs! 🤔 . . This skull - along with one other full skull (nfs), a set of lower jaws & four rib cages were found (as bones and fur) on a currently unused Logging road near my Home. . . Alpaca are commonly raised for fur, but it appears these critters were harvested for meat. Unusual but not unheard of. . . Still weird 💀 We haven't seen Alpaca on any local farms.. . . . . . #weirdshitinthewoods #igatherthedead #igtdskulls #skullcleaning #skullcollecting #vultureculture #deadthings #deadwhenwemet #bonecollecting #bonecleaning #smallbusiness #shopupdate #sweatetweather #forestwitch #witchlife #witchyvibes https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl1iIF-pAy4/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[halfembalmed]

Cleaned skull of a client's pet cat, known for her one giant fang. It's always an honor to work with memorializing these special pets, no matter what the species. 🖤 🖤 Thank you to the client for allowing me to share this photo. 🖤 . . . #catskull #petaftercare #petmemorialization #skullcleaning #dermestidbeetles #petaftercaremissouri #petmemorializationmissouri #petaftercarekansascity #petmemorializationkansascity #pettaxidermy #pettaxidermist #kansascity #kcmo #petskull #felineskull #halfembalmed (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8rPTY2J0ZC/?igshid=1u83fo0zi5fqi

[vivulture]

Housecat Skull

This cat was found under the porch at a friend's house. I cleaned it up a bit. Its missing some teeth from transport and probably some from being under the deck so long but most are still in there. Even through the cleaning process I managed to keep his slight patina.

[jcodditiesmarket-blog]

Give your loved ones some forever friends this holiday. 🌹 #Repost @afterlifeanatomy ・・・ Goth Friday-Whenever I wanna stop, SPECIAL! 15% off custom jackalopes or goat heads!! DM or email for info. #shopsmall #jackalopetaxidermy #jackalope #baphomet #baphomettaxidermy #goattaxidermy #taxidermy #afterlifeanatomy #oddities #learntaxidermy #naturalhistory #zoology #biology #taxidermyart #animalscience #animalanatomy #anatomy #dissection #naturalscience #taxidermyworkshop #taxidermybyproducts #bonecleaning #skulls #skullcleaning #bones #skull #taxidermyclass #taxidermyworkshop #customtaxidermy #gothfriday #blackfriday

[chupacabracrafts]

Headed for the maceration bucket 💫

[r0ts-skulls]

A friend of mine brought me this beauty a few days ago. He found her laying on the side of a road when he drove home from work. I put her in the woods near my house so I can collect her bones in a few weeks. . . . #vultureculture #bonecollecting #bonecollection #collector #realbones #animalskulls #skullcollector #skullcleaning #skullart #skullcollecting #taxidermy #bonecollector #taxidermycollector https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ere2zokPV/?igshid=n7sgyjwrtjw9