23 February 2010

It’s all about the antlers

Since the antlers on the Topshop Unique catwalk at LFW caused a bit of a stir, we’ve been thinking about all things antler-related. We’ve found there are actually quite a few things in this domain that we adore …

Firstly it’s got to be the band, The Antlers. Their 2009 album Hospice is truly great. Much like a stag, it’s powerful yet fragile and utterly beautiful at the same time. With a sombre message, the album reflects what antlers symbolise.


As sad as it’s true, antlers belong to a beautiful creature which often hunted for its meat, skin and bone. In ancient times this was a part of everyday life and during the excavation of Star Carr in North Yorkshire, twenty-one adult red deer skull parts with antlers were found. All had holes made through the back of them.


These worked antlers are thought to be head-dresses made from the by-products of the food the people had killed and eaten. The holes would have been used to tie them to the head with a leather thong and may have been worn by hunters as a disguise, but it is more likely that they were part of a costume worn on special occasions, perhaps during religious ceremonies. The Red deer antler head-dresses can now be seen at The British Museum and we can’t help but wonder if stylist Katie Grand got the idea for the Topshop designs here…


Antlers also evoke images of old country lodges where the heads have been mounted as trophies on the walls on the hunters. Associated with taxidermy and creepy films, it seems unlikely that they would have sparked an interiors trend in the modern day. But there’s just no escaping the beauty of the stag and lets face it, if it’s not a real head on the wall, it’s not upsetting for anyone.


Deer Rack Coat Hook £25 www.abodeliving.co.uk

Antlers Clothes Hangers designed by Alexander Taylor for Leigh Harmer £48 www.leighharmer.co.uk

Antler mirror (not real) £165 www.ivorypearlinteriors.com


The band The Antlers are playing at the O2 Academy in London on 4th March and in Brighton at the Hanbury Ballrooms on 5th March.

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