Antique English Framed Fox Horse Back Hunting Print — “Slap at a Brook” 1800s

Details

Description

A distinguished antique English fox hunting print titled “Slap at a Brook”, presented in its original 19th-century wood frame with … Read more A distinguished antique English fox hunting print titled “Slap at a Brook”, presented in its original 19th-century wood frame with ebonized interior slip and gilded accent liner. This dramatic scene captures mounted riders on horseback mid-leap over a flowing brook, rendered in the classic sporting art tradition of the Victorian era — a period when equestrian and hunt imagery symbolized status, land stewardship, and aristocratic leisure.

Maker / Origin:
The print itself is an English Staffordshire transfer lithographic sporting print, in the style and period of Victorian hunt atelier production, commonly published by London and Staffordshire print houses between 1850–1890. The frame is hand-assembled, showing square-cut steel nails and early machine-cut brad nails, consistent with mid to late 19th-century framing techniques.

Dating by Nails:
Square-cut nails (visible on the verso edges) were widely used from 1810 through the 1880s, before fully round wire nails dominated the market.

The presence of thin early brads (partially round, but irregular and hand-set) suggests a transitional period, reinforcing a likely frame date of 1860–1880, aligning perfectly with Victorian production.

The composition, coloring, and subject matter evoke a refined outdoor heritage aesthetic — ideal for collectors who curate estate interiors, equestrian clubs, or coastal patio-meets-heritage spaces.

Condition:
Original antique frame with beautiful age-earned surface character. Backing board intact; paper dust cover partially worn (as expected with age). Iron nails and brads show natural oxidation, structurally stable. Print remains clear, legible, and display-ready. No significant structural damage to frame or artwork. Please note: there is minor, diffuse discoloration visible on the interior mat beneath the glass, likely caused by historic humidity exposure to the original backing materials. The print has not been examined outside the frame. This discoloration is part of the piece’s authentic age narrative and preservation history. It does not compromise structural integrity or display appeal, and is consistent with period framing techniques from the 19th century.

Styling & Display Suggestions:

Perfect for old-money interiors, Ralph Lauren aesthetics, equestrian studies, libraries, and designer outdoor rooms

Style with antique brass, rattan, stone, or dark lacquered woods (Rebecca de Ravenel / traditional luxe energy)

Layer into a gallery wall with:
Sporting prints
Chinoiserie ceramics
Antique crosses
Landscape oils
Heritage book stacks
Complements colonial black-and-white home design, courtyard loggias, or upscale western estates

Dimensions:
15.25" Tall
18.25" Wide
.75" Deep See less