Antique Bronze Wild Game and Hunt Theme Match Holder

Elevate your wall decor with this striking antique bronze match holder, a superb example of Victorian-era Black Forest or Hunt Scene style design. Likely dating to the late 19th or early 20th century, this heavy cast piece captures the essence of the traditional hunting lodge aesthetic. It serves not only as a functional historical artifact but as a captivating work of sculptural art perfect for a library, study, or fireplace surround.

The craftsmanship is defined by its intricate, high-relief detailing. The composition is crowned by a majestic stag head with antlers, flanked by two small standing figures—likely foresters or hunters. Below this, the "trophy" motif continues with hanging game, featuring a hare on the left and a game bird on the right, centering around a relief of a hunting horn, rifle, and game bag. The base features a double-well pocket, texturally cast to resemble woven baskets or organic forms, originally intended to separate fresh matches from spent ones.

This piece is in excellent antique condition and boasts a rich, authentic patina that speaks to its age. Deep green verdigris oxidation has settled into the recesses of the casting, providing a beautiful contrast against the warmer, coppery bronze tones on the high points where handling has naturally polished the metal over time. There are no visible cracks or breaks, ensuring this solid piece is ready for display.

This substantial wall pocket makes a bold statement without overwhelming a space. While historically used for matches, it is versatile enough for modern use as a unique holder for keys in an entryway, a vessel for small dried botanicals, or simply as a standalone curiosity.

Disclosures: Loaded with patina and rubbed to the metal finish at high points. No breaks cracks or major flaws to note. There is a piece of metal wire wrapped around the front to the back that serves as the hanging wire. Please refer to the photos for a closer look at the stunning texture and depth of this collectible item.

Measurements (approximate - rounded to the nearest quarter inch):
10.75 inches in height
5.25 inches at widest point
1.25 inches in depth

All sales are final so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with any questions prior to purchase. Other objects found in the listing photos are for decorative use only and not included in this purchase.

VINTAGE & ANTIQUE
Vintage and antique items are pre-owned and aged goods. In most cases, we do not clean or polish any items that come into our shop. Once you remove an item's traces of age and patina it's not something you can reverse, so we leave those activities up to the buyer. We do not disassemble found art from their frames unless it is necessary to differentiate a print from an original piece of art. Vintage prints purchased from this shop could originate from any print media (e.g., magazines, books, photographs, art prints, etc.). We try our best to describe items accurately and disclose any and all flaws and imperfections. Please refer to pictures as a visual description. We want to make sure you are happy with your purchase so, please do not hesitate to ask any questions you may have prior to checkout.

SHIPPING
As much as possible, we utilize recycled shipping boxes. The box you receive your item in may show signs of wear and pre-use.

PHOTOGRAPHY
All photos are taken in natural light and we do not use any photo filters and do not perform and photo editing (other than basic photo cropping). Depending on your monitor settings, there may be subtle differences in color once you see your item in person.