Product description
The red deer is an animal of great symbolic importance in the mythology of many European peoples. As early as the Mesolithic period, deer were venerated. For example, at Star Carr, 21 red deer skulls were found, which had been modified to be worn as headdresses. Similar antler headdresses have been found elsewhere in Europe, such as the one from Biesdorf in Germany. Deer were associated with fertility, as seen in the Austrian Strettweg cult chariot from the Late Bronze Age and early medieval Germanic Sun Stones from Gotland.
In Celtic art and mythology, the red deer—especially the male—holds significant symbolic meaning. It often represents leadership, strength, renewal, and the connection to the afterlife. Stags are frequently depicted with intricate patterns and decorations, emphasizing their importance in Celtic tradition. Additionally, the deer was associated with forest gods and considered a guide to the spiritual world, particularly in stories about the Celtic Otherworld. Cernunnos, for instance, is a mythical figure with antlers on his head, depicted on the Gundestrup cauldron. He was the god of the forest. In Greek mythology, the deer is primarily associated with Artemis in her role as the virginal huntress. Actaeon, who saw Artemis bathing naked in a pond, was transformed into a stag by her, after which his own hounds tore him to pieces. Callimachus, in his well-informed “Hymn III to Artemis,” mentions the deer that pulled Artemis’ chariot.
A royal scepter from the Anglo-Saxon period, found at the Sutton Hoo burial site in England, is decorated with an image of an upright antlered stag. In the Old English poem Beowulf, the first part of the story revolves around Heorot, meaning "Hall of the Hart," a great feasting hall. In the Poetic Edda poem Grímnismál, four stags are described: Dáinn, Dvalinn, Duneyrr, and Duraþrór. These stags live on the World Tree, Yggdrasil, and feed on its branches. The dew produced in this process gathers in their antlers and forms the rivers of the world. The poem also tells of the stag Eikþyrnir, who lives on the roof of Valhalla. In the Prose Edda, in the book Gylfaginning, it is told that the god Freyr once killed Beli with an antler. In the Þiðrekssaga, Sigurd is raised by a hind (female deer).
In Christian medieval stories, the pagan symbolic meaning of the white stag or red deer as a creature linked to the afterlife and mysticism was preserved, for example in quest stories like “The Hunt for the White Stag” and Arthurian legends. Saint Giles, a saint from southern France, lived as a hermit with a hind (female deer) that fed him with her milk. In the legend of Le Puy-en-Velay, a deer led a bishop to the place where a church would later be built. Saint Hubertus, patron saint of hunters, converted after seeing a stag with a cross between its antlers. This legend appears to be related to that of Saint Eustace. According to chronicles, King Clovis I was aided by a great stag in finding a place to cross a river. In the 14th century, a stag with burning candles on its antlers appeared to King Ladislaus I of Hungary, which was interpreted as an angel and inspired the building of a cathedral in honor of the Holy Virgin.
This red deer hide has been tanned and comes from a wild red deer that lived in Germany. In Germany, hunting red deer is permitted due to the overpopulation of the species. Hunting helps maintain the balance of the ecosystem. The hunt mainly targets older stags that no longer thrive in the wild. Place yourself in the tradition of your ancestors and decorate your living room or bedroom with this beautiful hide.
Details:
Material: tanned red deer hide
Originating from the German hunting of red deer due to overpopulation
Tanned by German hunter
Dimensions: 160 x 135 cm
Please note: this is an average size. All skins are unique and sizes may vary.
Shipment weight (g): 5000 *
This item is produced in limited quantities only. This means that every piece is unique. Sizes & finish may vary lightly from piece to piece.
The animal parts in this item are made from animals caught in the wild, or animals killed in pest control for lack of a natural enemy like possums.
When packaging this item, we exclusively use 100% recycled plastic and recycled paper/cardboard from FSC certified forests. We reuse a large part of the material directly without the intervention of a recycling process.
Recycle the material by separating your waste:
1. Cardboard: separate or reuse your paper.
2. Plastic cushions, clothing bags and plastic tape: separate or reuse your plastic. If possible, pierce the cushions with a volume reduction needle.
3. Paper packaging for jewelry and small items: these have a plastic inner layer. Remove these, then separate your paper and plastic.
Read here about how we are committed to sustainability.
