"Xerxes" Cape Buffalo Sculpture

Happy to share a few early pictures of my latest creation, an African cape buffalo sculpture I call “Xerxes”.

Xerxes is a follow up to my first piece, Achilles and is comprised of over 30k individual dog tags (go ahead, count’ em!), requiring over 18 months of intense, often painstaking labor to create his impeccable coat of armor. He’ll soon be on display at Compass Real Estate’s Bellingham office gallery (reach out to them for visiting hours). Xerxes’ dog tags were donated by adventure travel gear manufacturer Red Oxx, based in Billings, MT. The initial structure of the mount was supplied by Fidalgo Taxidermy in Anacortes, WA. and is made of entirely synthetic materials.

The cape buffalo is not to be confused with the docile, domesticated Asian water buffalo. Measuring up to 6’ at the shoulder and weighing up to 2,200 pounds, they are possessed of a grouchy temperament suitable for dealing with the neighborhood Hyenas, Lions, Leopards and Crocodiles. Sometimes referred to as “The Black Death”, they are feared for their awesome power, deceptive agility and deft ability to charge at speeds up to 40mph, often without any warning.

The adult African cape buffalo's horns are its defining, iconic physical feature: they have fused bases, forming a continuous bone shield across the top of the head referred to as a "boss". It is widely regarded as one of the most dangerous animals on the African continent, and according to some estimates it gores, tramples, and kills over 200 people every year.

Want to bring something special to your space? Xerxes is NOT available for sale but I may consider placing future creations in a appropriate locations.