Hunting antiques are objects made for, or decorated with themes from, hunting and field sports, gathered from the stable, gun room, kennel and country house. They include practical equipment as well as furniture, works of art and decorative pieces that celebrate the chase.
Typical items include copper and brass hunting horns, silver stirrup cups in the form of fox or hound masks, hunting crops and whips with silver collars, saddles and bridles, boot jacks, boot racks and trees, gun cases and cartridge magazines, game larders and game boards. Furniture with hunting associations includes hunt tables, horseshoe-shaped wine tables and sturdy hall seats. Paintings, prints and bronzes of horses and hounds are also central to the field. Collectors value pieces with good quality materials and workmanship, original finishes, engraved names or crests, and associations with known hunts or estates. Wear consistent with genuine use is expected and often appreciated, though damage to leather and corrosion to metal should be assessed carefully. Hunting antiques are widely used to furnish boot rooms, halls and studies, giving an authentic sense of country life.
