The History of Antler and Horn Décor

The History of Antler and Horn Décor

This article relates to I'm the Girl

In Courtney Summers' I'm the Girl, much of the plot focuses on the mysterious, imposing Aspera resort. Part of what gives Aspera its exotic and vaguely menacing atmosphere is the fact that its luxurious interiors are heavily decorated with deer antlers (the book's endpapers also contain images of antlers). For Matthew Hayes, the owner of Aspera, these trophies—and the game hunting they represent—symbolize power and virility. Aspera's interior design also participates in a centuries-old tradition of decorating with the antlers and horns of animals.

Chandeliers made from deer antlers date back to 15th-century castles and manor homes of European nobility, a rustic yet powerful contrast to the perhaps more obvious luxury of fixtures made from gold. Elaborate decorative pieces constructed of antlers or horns were markers of wealth and prestige, as opposed to purely functional antler hooks or hangers one might find in humbler homes. These pieces were extravagantly designed and included trophy horns and antlers not only from deer, elk and boar, but also chamois and ibex. In Germany, a type of chandelier called a Lusterweibchen experienced a period of popularity in the 16th century. These fanciful fixtures combined antlers with carved figurines, primarily of women and mythological figures, including mermaids and dragons. Several of these historic pieces have made their way to museum collections, including the Cloisters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston.

During the 19th century, Queen Victoria had a "Horn Room" at her Isle of Wight residence, Osborne House, where the designs of chandeliers, footstools, tables and chairs incorporated antlers and horns. After London's Great Exhibition of 1851 set off a craze for the style, commercial manufacturers began marketing ready-made antler décor to upper-middle-class families. Manufacturers' catalogs from this period show listings for chairs and other furniture made from antlers and horns. Entrepreneur Friedrich Wenzel brought the horn furniture craze with him when he emigrated from Bohemia to Texas, where he utilized the horns of longhorn cattle to translate a European tradition to the American West.

While the popularity of this trend died down during the early 20th century, the elaborate use of antlers and horns in interior design has persisted, and continues to be an option for homeowners in search of a rustic yet luxurious atmosphere. Unlike in the European castles of old, however, today's consumers can opt for faux antler and horn chandeliers, and the choice of this type of décor is often more about style preferences than about hunting prowess.

15th-century German antler chandelier, courtesy of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Filed under Cultural Curiosities

This "beyond the book article" relates to I'm the Girl. It originally ran in November 2022 and has been updated for the April 2024 paperback edition. Go to magazine.

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