Tuesday’s reveal is the Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus) which, for what it’s worth, was neither confined to Ireland nor was an elk, being more closely related to the fallow deer. I started with Breyer’s elk model, and repositioned the neck to a more realistic pose for a bugling bull. I also resculpted the tail and back end since it’s unlikely that Megaloceros had the same hair pattern as an American elk. The antlers are completely sculpted from scratch, using the repositioned elk antlers (and a bit of wire for a missing section) as armature. And he’s been given hair texture all over, except for his paintings.

The cave paintings on his sides are reproductions of Megaloceros paintings from Chauvet Cave and Grotte de Cougnac. His overall coloration is based on markings shown on these and other paintings. There is a hump underneath the fur on his shoulders, another feature shown by the artists who observed these animals in their daily lives.

As I mentioned last week, I will be revealing a new Breyer custom every day this week. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s unveiling of the next animal in this prehistoric parade of customs!

Also, for those interested, the animals WILL be for sale. I will be taking offers starting next Monday, 8/30, for the entire set of six models. If I do not receive a satisfactory offer then I will offer them for sale individually at prices of my choice.