Erich, I believe that the factory applied them in a manner that allowed them to be easily taken off as the antlers have smaller pegs that fit into the head. I think they were finished better but perhaps not fired under glaze when they were made as they are so massive and fragile it would have caused a lot of breakage in transit to the final user.
That's my opinion.
I'm real glad you like it. It's very impressive in person. Perhaps my favorite of them all, surely my favorite Karner piece, next to the mouse!
Mark
