Introducing 'Black Gold,' my latest painted salvage skull. This wild American Bobcat/Lynx skull (lynx rufus) was salvaged from a naturally deceased specimen in Colorado of this year. The skull was beetle cleaned by my own dermestid colony, then degreased, sterilized and dried over a six week process. All teeth were removed and cleaned with old dental tools.

I then hand-applied a coat of black enamel to the entire skull before cementing the lower jaw back in place with a natural gape.

18k gold leaf was used to create unique designs on both sides of the cranium and the frontal (brow) of the skull while more gold leaf was applied to the impressive canine teeth and dotted along the zygomatic arches and lower jaw. The 18k gold leaf makes for a beautiful contrast against the deep black! Note: the designs are not pre-made gold leaf 'stickers' that I just bought and put on the skull - I hand-applied the gold leaf myself using my own hand-cut original stencil designs. Extremely tedious, but the end result is worth it.

Lastly the entire skull was finished with a brilliant, high-gloss acrylic sealant. As you can see in the photo the finish absolutely glistens.

A small walnut-stained display plaque is included with the skull. I carved the species name Lynx rufus onto the top display side of the plaque and gave the engraving a blackwash to bring it out. My shop/artist name 'The Silver Caribou' has been carved into the bottom (nondisplay) side of the plaque. The plaque has a matte finish.

The skull has some worn molars on one side and a single missing incisor up front; this is barely visible with the black enamel and does not affect the look of the finished skull. The canines are pristine and undamaged, as is the skull itself.

The skull is a salvage, so no bobcat was killed to obtain it. It measures a little over 6 inches along the top curve of the skull from nose to back of skull, and a hair over 3 inches when measured top to bottom (highest point of cranium to bottom of lower jaw.)

USA sales only, all wildlife laws apply.

Available here, along with additional pretty pictures. :)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/202114.....18k-gold-leaf?