UBB.threads Forums Edged Weapons Hunting, Forestry, and Shooting Forum Pre-'45 Hunting Art

Great topic guys. It really brings life to some of the hunting & shooting weapons and traditions. The art itself is very impressive. Indeed we have a cosmopolitan forum here and a great learning experience.

Some outstanding images here gentlemen, this has turned out to be a stellar thread. Thank you Bill, for breaching the subject. Your insight on printing techniques is also very much appreciated! I've come across the Dekorativ Vorbilder tomes, but have not secured any of them. I have seen at least 4 different volumes.

That tangle of serpents is simply exquisitely rendered. Impressive.

Wotan, those are some outstanding paintings. Very much admire the second Grouse image. I can't help but take note of the frame as well. any background on the artist?

I have quite a lot of relevant material but unfortunately much of it is in storage and temporarily inaccessible. As I'm partial to lithographs, I'm posting an example that I own. This piece features a poem which celebrates the joys of hunting in the open air, and is embellished with graphic depictions of mountain life. Note the Edelweiss in the left margin.It dates from the 1890s I believe.

.. and a closeup of the inset image.

Thank you for your kind remarks about my oil paintings.
@WWII: thank you for the insight concerning the special painting technic French trompe l'oeil style. The certain daggers go very well with these paintings or perhaps the other way round.
I think the dutch took these images for a book from the german region, naturally under dutch title. But the images tell the truth.
@Albrecht: Yes, the painter (full academic title and signature is on the painting) is well known and prominent for his animal and hunting still lifes. I am also especially pleased by the exclusive and nicely adequate frame of this certain painting.
Regards,

Friends,

Thanks to all who've added their artwork to this thread, I'm really enjoying all the nice hunting and animal related images.

In keeping with Albrecht's latest post, here's another early painting of Gemswild, the collective name of these small horned-animals.
They're also known as chamois, Gamswild or Krickelwild, Krickel or Krucken being the long hair of the back - the Gamsbart or Gams-beard.
This "beard" or tuft of hair is that which we often times see adorning many a German hunter's cap. The distinctive, dense black horns make the perfect grip material for the small Nickmesser or skinning knives, sometimes the horn is used with the entire curl but mostly cut into a straight section that ends in either a plain or decorative pommel cap.

Hope you gents will continue to add more nice images to our small gallery, as time allows.

Cheers!

Bill

Yes. "Decorative Art" is the best description of the works shown.

I really enjoy viewing all the wonderful art work shown here. I wish I had more colorful lithos but most of mine are all b&w.

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Steve Ray,

Yes, decorative art would be an appropriate term
for these hunting and animal illustrations, however, the distinctions between fine and applied art are arbitrary at best. Commercial and graphic work also falls into the category of applied art, i.e., function before form, a
book, vase or other useful object. For instance, an old manuscript or Roman vase may have been functional when it was made, but today it's a purely aesthetic object.(fine art?)

Mikee, I really like your Auerhahn drawings, they're great-looking birds, frequently seen
depicted in German hunting art. Hunting and forestry dagger collectors will recognize this game bird from the clamshell pattern on the popular Eickhorn models, 1712 and 1713. There are several names for these wildfowl, such as Capercailzie, grosser Hahn, Urhahn, and the female hen, Auerhenne. Several birds - Gesperre or Kette.

How about a change of pace, should we try for some 3-dimensional hunting-related items? Some nice carvings, works in bronze, etc?

Hope you'll enjoy these ...

Bill

2/2

Bill,
Those are some very nice and detailed pieces. Thanks for showing them. I need to grab some of these up when I find them because I enjoy art period and seeing these makes me wish I had purchased a few. I think I have just this one but I'm unsure what it's made of. It's signed at the base but can barely read the name. It's not as nice or as detailed as your fine specimens but I've enjoyed it for many years. I was told the winged creatures and fittings on the furniture are bronze but again I'm unsure. Thanks Bill.

Mikee,

Great rooster and a beautiful setting for it as well, indeed splendid!

I agree with you 110% that this early 20th century stuff is addictive and fun,
as well as many times a good investment - at least as good as any of the trash in my sick and sputtering 401k plan, heh ..

The rooster reminds me of the Jagdgeschwader
Richthofen logo, also a handsome chap!

As always, thanks for sharing with everyone.

Best!

Bill

Bill,
What 401k?
Here's a wood carving. A Ferret used to flush out rabbits.

And the next one is a very nicely done wood carving of Knight on horseback hunting deer. The panel is quite large for a wood carving, measures 2.5'x 1.5'. I've had these both as well for many years. Thanks for looking.

I've enjoyed this piece for many years and hope you all enjoy it just as much. Thanks for looking.

Mikee...that is some stunning work.

Bill...exquisite and some history in all the works.

I'm pleased to see that work of this caliber is in good hands.

Mark

Hi Mark,
Sorry about the picture quality, I thought it looked okay when I loaded it onto the site but now the Knight looks much darker,strange. Thanks and glad you like them.

Mikee,

That first photo is really primo, what a great layout - sehr gem�tlich! The beautiful fawn would make a nice addition to the "Imperial
Allach" thread ... Nice sculpture, who's the maker? The painting is exceptional.

Some lovely woodcarving, a man hunting with a ferret ... dang! Never seen that before.
My buddy had one for a pet that used to nip your ankles whenever he got the chance ...
hated that little ****er, heh ..

Beautiful hunting leitmotifs ...

Mark -

An early 20th century carved hare, cherry and walnut.

Best wishes to all !

Bill

Bill,
That's nice! Extremely well carved rabbit! Is the rabbit made in sections or is it carved from one single block of wood? It's seamless so I can't tell and the wood grain seems to match perfectly as well.

Thanks, I'll be just like that picture, comfortable and relaxed after I drink what's in that bottle.

Normally ferrets are pretty tame and a lot hunters use a hawk in conjunction with a ferret. Different methods are used; bottom line I guess is whatever works right.

I almost forgot I have this carving of a bird nestled in some acorns and grapes. Sorry for the picture quality, it's placed a little high up and carved onto my mirror which is quite large. The left wing looks odd because of the picture angle but it's fine. My fire place has some nice carvings but I'll save that for another time. Thanks

Gents,

Now that's a nice carving, first class. Some of these old German and Austrian 'Holzschnitzer' were supremely gifted. Even though there are many, many talented woodworkers in the trade today, there's something special about these aged carvings. The various patinas and natural wood colors really add an extra pinch of spice, no?

The hare is carved from a single piece of wood,
I looked for signs of lamination but couldn't find any. This unit came from an antique shop in London, England, a few years ago. I was and still am glad to be fortunate enough to add it to my collection.

Another favorite subject among German woodcarvers seems to be the wild pig or boar.
They can be found carved in many different styles, from simple abstractions to strikingly realistic. Here's an example from the early 1900's, what I'd call a caricature rendering.
This old tusker was the work of Ernst Gustav J�ger, an animal artist of some note from the Jugendstil era. True to form, I present you with an ugly little brute ...

Best!

Amazing and Wonderful thread guys!

Bill, that "ugly little brute"..is beautiful!
(I guess "beauty" REALLY is in the eye of the "beholder"?)
That one reminds me of my recently passed little "porker",

"Princess"





KEEP IT COMING!

Bill,
Not ugly at all and I love it! What a great find and a magnificent carving! Only a master carver can render such attention and beauty. I can�t agree more, the patina with the added different shades of color from aged wood just can�t be beat. From his wrinkled snout, thick bristled hair raised up on his back, tail tucked in tight, right down to his correct stance with daggers drawn. This brute is ready for battle! What a great piece and what a treat to see! Thank you.

Mann,
Sorry to hear that. Looks like he was loads of fun.

Mann,

I hear these little fellas are smart as a whip,
would he listen to what you told him? Will you get another one?

Mikee - I'm glad you share my enthusiasm for these older, decorative arts. It seems the Germans really enjoyed their penchant for animal figures of all types, and so do I ..

Here's a bronze figure of a Rehbock or male
roe-deer, cleaning his hoof. This elegant buck is the work of Albert Hinrich Hussmann, one of the less well-known sculptors for the Rosenthal porcelain works. To the best of my knowledge this piece dates to around 1941-'42.

Good prospecting and collecting to all !

Bill

Bill,
I just love animal figures in any form. I really enjoy it when you post your stuff, it's like getting your own special private viewing of great works or art. Thanks.

What a great thread, I hope there is more to come.

Gary

Gary,

Found this in my files today, remember? I think this was about the time that you found the Rominten presentation dagger?

Anyway, I thought this lovely oil painting of the Kaiser in full hunting regalia would fit in nicely here, so ...

Best!

Bill

Another outstanding image Bill. Well done and thanks! This is not only a great painting, but shows off the subject's Regalia very nicely.

I hope to contribute some more images to this thread myself. Still need to access some items in storage..

You can tell he's wearing a WKC hirschf�nger, you just got to look at the scabbard mounts and grip acorns to see it.


Nice picture Bill, I think I had a copy of this picture at one time but as with everything else they all went with my hard drive crash.

Gary

Hey Willi,

Is that a GDC badge he's wearing ????
Great piece.....

Regards,

Lou,

I hear that one of these GDC badges and a dollar will get you a small cup of coffee ...

Best!

Bill

Bill,
Than you and everyone for posting the great hun ting photographs. It has been a great show.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hubertus:
Bill,
Thank you and everyone for posting the great hunting photographs. It has been a great show.
Sincerely,
HUBERTUS

I love this stuff. My Uncle by marriage was first gerneration German-American. His dad lived behind us when I was young. He was from Bavaria. His house was full of these paintings and sketches. And a bunch of Coo Coo Clocks.

I do gun stock work and was given a nice old Mauser Sporter stock. The unfortunate part is that some Bubba decided to customize it by inlaying white nylon diamonds in both sides of the stock.

So I decided to attempt to correct this. I made a couple of "Old World" inlays out of Water Buffalo horn, and will use them to cover the inletting where the diamonds were.

They aren't quite finished yet. Need to do some smoothing and polishing, but they will look one hell of a lot better than what was there.

Nixie,

From the looks of your carved inlays I'd say your Mauser should turn out to be a very handsome rifle when you're finished. I hope you'll let us have a look when she's ready to go..?

Both carvings reflect a good bit of talent and are nicely rendered, how long have you been at this kind of work? Wish I could do something half as nice! Either one of your fine examples would look super inlayed into a custom dagger case, a great accent piece for a fine Hirschf�nger display.

Great looking work ...

Thanks and best regards!

Bill

Hi Bill,

I've been sketching, drawing and painting since I was very young. It's kind of a natural talent, that served me well in school. I used to get out of class to make signs,or draw and paint posters for school events, class room displays, etc.

This is my first attempt at relief carving. I had some Buffalo horn that I use to make grip caps for rifle stocks. So, I sat down with a couple of slices, and a Dremmel tool with a small burr bit, and and started carving. It took a while to get the technique down, but I finally got it to work.

Thanks for the compliments.

Ron

Gents,

Thought I'd see if we could flush out a few more good images?

I can start things off with this 1903 illustration of a Hirsch and his two girlfriends ...

Best regards and good collecting!

Bill

To give this nice and interesting thread some new push.
A little metal/heavily silvered statue showing a mountain-hunter wearing a chamois over his shoulders, balancing across a snow-field with his mountain-walking-stick.

2.
Regards,