Antique Caribou Antlers on an oak shield...

Hi - I need some help figuring out what this is worth. I am retiring and cleaning out the attic, and I don't wan to make a mistake when I sell it. - Here's a description and some photos.

It is an antique set of caribou antlers, mounted on a heavy oak shield. Judging by the construction of the shield, the look of the wood, old varnish, joinery on the back of the shield, etc, it is very old, maybe even 19th century. The antlers are large but not overly large. The shield is an inch and a half thick and beveled around the edges. The shield and the antlers together are 3 feet high and has a depth of about 25" Everything has a consistent patina. The whole thing weighs about 18-20 lbs, and has a sturdy hook that looks old and may be hand-made. There is no damage to the shield or antlers. I see prices all over the board for lesser/much newer looking versions of these, and I don't want to make a mistake. A lot of those prices are over a thousand dollars. I have had it in storage for decades, and and have no idea of its provenance. I bought it in a yard sale on long Island NY in the early 1990's. It would be impressive in the right setting...

 

A few more photos...

 

Doesn't look like any moose antlers I've ever seen.

 

Welcome on board!
Please, click post all as full image after uploading your pics, so we don’t have to click on each to see
Yes, not moose, probably Red deer.

 

That's what I've been told by two guys I know that are hunters... A young moose. They could have been wrong. If anyone can identify them more accurately, you certainly won't hurt my feelings. I did not find a closer match researching deer/caribou/reindeer photos. That's why I'm here...

 

https://www.all-about-moose.com/moose-antlers.html

 

Changed the title... Thanks.

 

You can use eBay sold listings to get an idea of what people are getting. This is not a definitive price guide, by any means.

Search eBay for red deer antlers, and filter the results to show sold listings for some ideas on what people pay. The method to filter results depends on the device and application you use to access eBay.

It almost looks like yours have been varnished. I don't know if that would detract from value, if that's the case.

 

I am pretty sure that what you have are caribou/reindeer antlers. The flattened tine projecting forward, near the base of one of the arms, is the distinctive "brow palm" or "shovel". This is characteristic of caribou. Their antlers can be quite baroque and asymmetrical. But yours seem nontypical in the number of tines along the main beams, which is what makes them difficult to identify. You might try taking them to a taxidermist to confirm a positive identification, and some estimate of their value.

 

Thanks, I agree. The "brow-tine" or "shovel" is present. I just came to the same conclusion after a little more research. They match photos of a caribou, which today is an endangered species apparently. Would that mean I cannot sell this antique? I don't know. That "varnish" is probably the cleaner I sprayed on them right before I took the photos. It was in the attic for decades.

 

Only the subspecies of mountain/woodland caribou is considered endangered. Regular caribou and reindeer (domesticated caribou) are not. To be certain, you can check with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and your state department of fish and wildlife for any applicable laws.

 

VERY nontypical if they are caribou - their tines sweep up & back, not dropped down. Doubt they are from a caribou.

 

What other species have that brow tine or "shovel"?

 

This "reindeer/caribou antler tutorial" I found posted on twitter. The illustration of non-typical antler growth shows examples quite similar to yours.

https://twitter.com/velkss_/status/1077351932958834690

 

Well, isn't that something? Thanks so much for the research. I appreciate your time very much. I knew, based on the shovel that you were right. This confirms it further. Thanks again. Doug