Custom Builds & Dioramas
Driftwood, water scenes, full habitats, and the one-of-a-kind builds that turn a mount into the centerpiece of a room.
Most of our work is craft. A small slice of it is sculpture. Custom water builds, multi-animal scenes, and full habitat dioramas live at the edge of the studio where engineering, woodworking, and storytelling all meet the bench.
Custom Builds — the essentials
Six articles, hand-picked from the Stehling archive, that answer the questions hunters and collectors most often ask in this category.
Bering Sea Custom Water Build
A long-form look at one of our most ambitious water scene builds, from concept sketch to final cure.
Read more →Habitat & Diorama Work
Multi-element scenes built around a single mount or a family group.
Read more →Custom Bases & Pedestals
Driftwood, stone, hand-built panels, and the engineering that keeps a heavy mount stable.
Read more →Camo Dipped Skulls
Hydrographic finishes on European mounts, with full color and pattern selection.
Read more →Repair & Restoration
Bringing damaged or aging mounts back to display condition — including work from other studios.
Read more →Start a Custom Project
How to brief us on a custom build, what we need from you, and how the proposal process works.
Read more →1
Of a kind, every time
Frequently asked
The questions we answer most often, drawn from real conversations on the studio floor.
How is custom work priced?
By scope. Every custom build starts with a written proposal that itemizes mounts, materials, structural work, and finish detail so there are no surprises at pickup.
Can you build to a client-supplied sketch?
Yes. We routinely build from sketches, photographs, reference paintings, and even scale models. We will tell you up front if anything in the brief is structurally impossible.
Do you build for institutions?
Yes — see our Institutions page. Museum and visitor-center work is a meaningful part of our studio.
Can a custom build be moved later?
Designed properly, yes. We engineer most custom bases for separation so the piece can be relocated without damage.
How far in advance should I commission a custom build?
A year minimum for anything elaborate. The most complex projects we have on the floor were briefed two years before delivery.
Have a project in mind?
Whether you have a specific question about custom builds or you want to brief us on a trophy already on its way, we are happy to help.