Carved Oak Wall Shield
These carved oak wall shields combine heraldry and animal trophies, offering a striking focal point for a period interior.
Carved Oak Wall Shield
A carved oak wall shield brings together traditional woodwork and taxidermy mounts, serving as a decorative plaque for interior display.
The pieces on this page span from the seventeenth century through to the twentieth century, encompassing styles such as Victorian Gothic Revival and French Hunting Lodge.
Forms include heraldic crests, architectural panels, and taxidermy mounts featuring stags, roe deer, and buffalo set onto timber bases.
Materials and construction methods
Oak forms the primary timber base for these shields, often heavily carved with heraldic motifs, foliage, or armorial designs.
Many items incorporate natural materials alongside timber, including animal antlers, natural hide, and glass eyes used in taxidermy mounts.
Some armorial crests feature polychrome paintwork applied directly to the carved wood, while others incorporate inset brass frames.
Some stags gaze down from their oak shields with glass eyes that have watched over drawing rooms for well over a century.
Judging quality in carved woodwork
Quality rests upon the crispness of the hand carving and the depth of the relief work visible in the oak.
Age and provenance elevate certain pieces, particularly those attributed to specific makers or connected to historical heraldry.
Gerrard and Sons London·Edward Pearce
The Carved Oak Wall Shield Glossary
- Armorial crest
- A design derived from a coat of arms, typically carved in relief onto wood or displayed on a shield.
- Taxidermy mount
- The preserved skin and form of an animal mounted onto a backing board, such as a carved timber shield.
- Heraldic shield
- A decorative panel shaped like a medieval shield and displaying symbols of lineage or identity.
- Polychrome
- Painted in several colours, often found on older wooden coats of arms to highlight specific heraldic tinctures.
Carved Oak Wall Shield: Frequently Asked Questions
How were carved oak wall shields originally displayed?
These pieces were typically hung in grand halls, hunting lodges, and libraries to display family lineage, allegiance, or sporting triumphs.
They served both a decorative purpose and a symbolic one, often anchoring the room's overarching architectural theme.
What periods do these wall shields come from?
The selection includes pieces ranging from the seventeenth century up to the early twentieth century.
Victorian and Edwardian revivals of earlier styles are particularly common among the surviving items.
How do I care for the oak and taxidermy elements?
Keep the wood nourished with appropriate wax and avoid placing the pieces in direct sunlight or near heat sources.
Taxidermy requires a dry environment to protect the natural materials and hair from dampness.
What is the difference between an armorial crest and a taxidermy shield?
An armorial crest focuses entirely on carved woodwork, paint, and metalwork representing a coat of arms or family crest.
A taxidermy shield incorporates animal antlers or heads mounted directly onto a carved wooden backing.