These mounted trophies revive memorable hunting adventures in Ireland, England, and Virginia.Mounted game trophies are often seen in hunters’ homes as reminders of adventures worth remembering and fallen game worthy of respect. Also, as in the case of a pair of canvasback ducks shot years ago by my wife and soaring in graceful flight on one wall of our den, trophies may be mounted simply as permanent visions of the beauty of the natural world—one’s own museum of natural history—surpassing anything wrought by the artist and cast in cold bronze.
Mounted trophies are also to be found at estate auctions and antique shops. It is the latter category that prompts this query from Foxhunting Life reader Bill Getchell:
“Is there a consensus,” asks Bill, “regarding the display of mounted trophies? Strict constructionists say you should do so only for game that you hunted. Others leave it wide open, maintaining it shows support for the sport and saves the trophy from the trash heap.”
With the caveat that are no right or wrong answers to this question, only personal opinions, here are two thoughtful yet differing views from two experienced and respected sportsmen on FHL’s Panel of Experts: Nigel Peel, MFH and huntsman of the North Cotswold Foxhounds (UK) and Hugh Robards, ex-MFH and currently huntsman of the Middleburg Hunt (VA):
Nigel Peel, MFH and the North Cotswold Foxhounds / Nico Morgan photo“Mounted trophies that have been awarded to you or members of your family are of course the best,” writes Nigel. “However, should you find trophies of the chase for sale, it is much better that a hunting person has them rather than they are left to rot and gather moths in a pub or similar hostelry!
“Some years ago I found a mask of a fox caught by the Cotley Hounds when the great Colonel Eames was hunting them. I bought it, rang up my friend Vyvyan, who looked up the date in his father’s hunting diary only to discover that it had been caught on the borders of the Taunton Vale country, of which pack I had been Master. It is now a valued Peel possession! Much better than letting it rot somewhere else.”
Huntsman Hugh Robards / Alex Farnham photoHugh Robards agrees only in part. “It is one thing,” says Hugh, “for a member of the field to be presented with a trophy at the end of an exceptional hunt. Then it is up to that person whether he or she has it mounted with the details of the hunt, such as the date, the name of the hunt, where the find took place, and where the hunt finished. Perhaps the name of the horse that was ridden and the distance covered in so many minutes. This could be of interest to family and friends for many generations.
“On the other hand, buying trophies from antique dealers or auctions may be in order if they have the hunt and details of that particular run. If they do not, they are of very little interest and only fit to decorate the walls of public houses in rural parts of the country.
“I have never been keen on mounted trophies from the chase; they are great dust catchers! I agree with a statement made by Bill Lander when he was first whipper-in and kennel huntsman to Captain Wallace at the Heythrop: ‘You don’t want no souvenirs, only the memory.’ That is why we keep hunting diaries, to enhance the memory.”
Comments on this subject are welcome. Full disclosure: all comments are moderated by the editor, and must display a maximum of civility and a minimum of emotion for publication!
Posted November 1, 2015