subject: Do Zebra Skin Rugs Make Good Home Accents? [print this page] If what you are going for in your decorating is the exotic African look and feel, then yes zebra skins make good home decorating pieces. The good part about using these rugs is they come from animals that are not threatened.
They come from the non-endangered Burchell's zebra which is legally culled in some countries in Africa. Not only that, if you live in the U.S. and are looking to purchase one for yourself, it is lawful to do so as long as it is accompanied by the appropriate paper work.
Zebras actually vary in color from the traditional black and white that you think of when you hear the word zebra. The stripes can range from a very dark brown, that looks black in the distance, and brown only when close up, to the lighter more chocolaty brown.
Another fun fact about zebras is the pattern of their stripes. Each animal has its own unique pattern and no two animals are ever the same. If you have the time, try and look at pictures of two different zebras and see if you can tell this for yourself.
I wish I could say real zebra rugs are cheap, but I can't; unless you consider fifteen hundred dollars as being cheap. Despite the price being that high, that is only the beginning. Each skin comes with its own imperfections and the ones that are perfect cost a lot more.
You should expect to pay about two thousand dollars or more for a perfect skin that is free from any blemishes of any kind. The way these skins are categorized according to quality may differ from vendor to vendor. This is why it wouldn't be a bad idea to shop around before buying.
Have you ever heard of the saying, "it's too good to be true"? This saying applies in the animal rug world. If you find a rug that is way too cheap, then it might be too good to be true. Always move with caution when it comes to these rugs. You don't want a skin that was unethically obtained.
Before you decide to buy your rug from any company, try and find out if the pelts they stock were legally obtained from their countries of origin. Even though these animals are culled, there might be that one company that would want to cut corners.
