Shield Mounted Horns
These shield mounted horns bring genuine historic character to a room, offering the robust presence of Victorian and Edwardian sporting lodges.
Shield Mounted Horns
When you search for shield mounted horns, you are looking at substantial wall decor created to display animal trophies from British hunting traditions.
The pieces on this page span the Victorian and Edwardian eras, coming down to us through Highland traditional and hunting lodge styles.
You are most likely to meet examples featuring natural horn, antler, and bone mounted directly onto carved wooden shields of oak.
Materials and Construction
Makers utilised natural animal materials including horn, bone, antler, fur, and hide, often preserved through taxidermy techniques of the period.
The mounting foundations were constructed from solid timber, predominantly oak, shaped into carved shields to support the heavy weight of the trophies.
Shield Mounted Horns Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for shield mounted horns among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Even a twelve-point stag requires a sturdy wall and a straight eye to hang quite right.
Judging Quality
Quality separates ordinary trophies from exceptional works by the symmetry of the horns, the scale of the spread, and the depth of the carving on the wooden shield.
The expertise of the taxidermy work and the preservation of the natural hide and bone dictate the overall visual authority of the piece on the wall.
Edward Gerrard and Sons
The Shield Mounted Horns Glossary
- Taxidermy mount
- The art of preparing, stuffing, and mounting the skin and horns of animals in lifelike or display forms. This practice formed the backbone of Victorian and Edwardian interior trophy display.
- Shield mount
- A wooden plaque shaped like a heraldic shield used as a backing board for hanging animal trophies. Oak was frequently utilised for this purpose.
- Antler
- The bony growth shed annually by members of the deer family, distinguished from horns by its branched structure. These form significant centrepieces in Highland lodge decor.
- Trophy
- An item that shows evidence of an expedition or hunt, preserved as a keepsake. These objects defined the aesthetic of late nineteenth and early twentieth-century country houses.
Shield Mounted Horns: Frequently Asked Questions
What are shield mounted horns?
Shield mounted horns are historical taxidermy pieces consisting of natural horns or antlers attached to carved wooden wall plaques.
They originate primarily from the Victorian and Edwardian periods, reflecting the sporting aesthetics of hunting lodges.
How were these mounts used historically?
These pieces served as prominent wall decor in country houses, hunting lodges, and halls to display successful sporting expeditions.
They demonstrated the owner's connection to Highland traditions and international hunting pursuits during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
How do I hang a heavy mount safely?
Due to the substantial weight of the oak shields and natural horn, secure wall fixings into masonry or timber studs are essential.
Ensure the hanging wire or bracket on the reverse matches the load capacity before mounting the piece.
How can I tell the period of a mount?
Dating relies on the style of the carved wooden shield, the taxidermy techniques employed, and specific maker signatures where present.
Victorian pieces often feature darker, heavily carved oak, while Edwardian examples display varied African and Highland species.