Natural luxury with animal accents.

Locally sourced décor to bring a touch of wilderness to your home.

More than just a trophy.

South Africans aren’t new to the use of animal hides and horns in our homes and accessories. We love our sheepskin slippers, our vellie’s and our Umqhele. Hunting trophies and animal hide rugs are staples in many a Mzansi home.

It’s time to update a classic

This love of animal accents remains strong in our décor styles and the recent Homemakers Fair leaned into this trend.

Beautiful Horns (Jennifer Rossouw)

Jennifer Rossouw and her team create unique art works using only the finest raw material. They source their beautiful game horns and skulls from reputable farms and then carve the most intricate artworks and patterns into the stark white bone. The end result is striking, but also deeply African. There is no denying the cultural impact of one of their creations.

This is a real conversation piece and will bring a unique character to any space. Off-set against a bold coloured wall, or as part of a collected feature wall, these decorated skulls reach into your psyche and remind you that all living things are connected.

What stands out about this art is the way in which it succeeds in honouring the animal. Even more than a traditional taxidermised hunting trophy, the care that is taken with the carving highlights the beauty of the natural world.

Customize your own

Beautiful Horns offer a service to create bespoke art form your own trophies. From bleaching to carving, they will work with you to create an artwork that fits your vision.

Not just horns

If the idea of a carved or painted skull and horns doesn’t appeal to you, Jennifer and her team also create wonderful wooden and metal artworks inspired by the horned art of their other pieces.

Not just horns

If the idea of a carved or painted skull and horns doesn’t appeal to you, Jennifer and her team also create wonderful wooden and metal artworks inspired by the horned art of their other pieces.

The ancient breed we still love today

The history of Nguni cattle in Southern Africa can be traced back to the very first century of the common era. This breed of cattle crossed the mighty Zambezi in about 600CE and through the ages have developed into a hardy and productive breed, perfectly suited for the South African climate.

Admired beyond all others

This means that Nguni are highly prized in many South African cultures, denoting wealth and prosperity in a very distinctive manner. With their high gloss coats and their deeply pigmented hides that support distinctive patterns unique to each animal, this breed isn’t just hardy, but beautiful as well.

The Nguni hide is a very oily hide, which means it can be used as a durable décor item and won’t become brittle or faded as quickly as some other drier hides.

Did you know: The longevity and durability of Nguni hides were prized by Zulu warriors who often used these hides to make battle shields.

“The distinctive patterns on Nguni cowhides are as unique as fingerprints—no two hides are alike. These patterns not only made the cattle visually striking but also played an important role in identifying and categorizing cattle within a herd. Each hide had its own significance, sometimes reflecting family lineage or tribal identity.”

Ngunicowskins.com

With all of this in mind, it makes sense that even today these beautiful and uniquely African hides are valued beyond their cultural significance and have become an icon of South African interior design.

This is where or another much-loved exhibitor comes in.

Seeing as most of us do not have our own Nguni herds and professional hide tanning facilities, The Nguni Guy offers us all the beauty and luxury of Nguni hides, at the click of a button. (You could also visit their showroom).

They source beautiful pristine Nguni hides and deliver them straight to you. Their hides mostly come from pasture raised Nguni herds in KwaZulu Natal and they only stock the finest quality hides. Their online sales portal and website allows you to browse their entire collection of hides and pick the one with the right colours and patterns to realise your design dreams. They also offer stitched rugs, which add a modern element to this classic hide.

Top Tip: If you are looking for luxury, durable sheepskins, decorative as well as medical grade, they also have a wide collection of these available.

A great quality Nguni cowhide is an investment

“While cowhides have an undeniable luxurious feel about them, they are, in fact, an affordable flooring option for your home. When you consider the longevity / lifespan of your hide, its resistance to stain and general wear, and their unique ability to be a feature in any space in your home, a hide is “dollar for dollar” the best choice around.”

TheNguniGuy.co.za

Collect your conversation piece.

Don’t be afraid to invest in one of these unique African artworks for your home, whether you choose a luxurious rug to celebrate our vibrant country, or decorate with a handcrafted, carved horned showpiece, the idea should be to bring a bit of the African wilderness into your living space. Using animal accents will ensure a connected, natural vibe in your home and will remind you of the interconnected nature of the world and our ancestors.