Zebra’s are one of nature’s most unique creatures – while most mammals rely on their colors to “blend” into their natural habitats, a Zebra’s skin has an incredibly unique striped texture that stands out.

But most people realize that most Zebras are not entirely “white and black” – many of them feature dark striping that is either close to black or a very dark brown color. The lighter stripes can be white, but are more typically an off-white or light brownish color. This striping also varies in size and shape based on the type of Zebra.

A species of Zebra that is abundant and frequently culled in Africa is the Bruchell species of Zebra. While some species of Zebra have upwards eighty to ninety stripes, a Bruchell Zebra features about 30 wider strips across the hide.

When producing a Zebra rug, the hide of the Zebra is cut along the belly so that the beautiful striping across the back is centered, producing a look that is “symmetrical” in it’s own natural way.

Life in the wild is harsh in the plains of Africa; upon close examination, a natural, genuine Zebra rug will always have some scarring across the pelt. Finding a Zebra skin without any damage or natural scarring is nearly impossible – if a “Grade A” skin is found, they are by far the best investment and the most valuable, despite paying the premium for one. A good quality Zebra skin will retain its value and  with good care, will last  for for a lifetime.

Here’s an example of a Grade A, high quality Zebra skin (click to enlarge):

A genuine Zebra rug is approximately 8 – 10 ft. long (including head and tail). They are tanned and backed by a finely cut black felt that is visible around the edge of the hide. They are truly an eye-catching piece that will always draw the eye immediately upon entering the room.

The texture of genuine Zebra rugs is also unique to any synthetic alternatives; the hides are relatively thin and quite flexible and look best on a hardwood or marble floor. Modern decor and African-themed decor are greatly enhanced with an exquisite Zebra rug underneath.

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Categories: Genuine Zebra Rugs
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Zebra hides are fantastic additions to a room space, and Zebra rugs are often the most common use because of their adequate size – but what about other applications such as a wall covering or a wall hanging? Do not hammer it into the wall with a nail!! This will damage a beautiful and valuable hide. A Zebra hide, being a natural leather hide, will probably have a felt backing to it if it was professionally tanned for a Zebra rug.

Here are a couple suggestions:

Affix the Zebra hide between two large pieces of glass and frame it. This will be heavy and quite large, but the look will be fantastic – a mounted see-through frame featuring a Zebra hide, well-preserved between two pieces of see-through glass. If you don’t to use a framed glass configuration, consider a strong but light plastic to affix the Zebra hide in between. As long as the pieces are pressed on either side of the Zebra hide, you should be able to easily mount it without the hide moving. If necessary, affix very small pieces of non-stick adhesive to either side and that should do the trick.

If you don’t want to go through the process of framing or want a more rustic appearance for your mounting, simply find some grips in a hardware or craft store to mount your Zebra hide. Be sure that whatever you use is not going to damage the pelt in any way – sticky, messy adhesives or putting holes in the skin will damage the pelt, decreasing its look and value. With some extra time and consideration, you can easily mount your Zebra hide.

tags: decorating, exotic leather, genuine zebra hide, genuine zebra rug, zebra hide, Zebra Rug, zebra rugs
Categories: Genuine Zebra Rugs
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