Gorsuch Private Antler Collection – Royal Treasures
Jeff Gorsuch reveals his private antler collection
By Jenn Weede
The conquests of the Rothschilds, Kaiser Wilhelm, and rulers of the Habsburg Empire hang unceremoniously behind a pretty-faced woman and a cash register. If you look closely you can glimpse them on the lower level of Vail’s flagship Gorsuch store. These rare and remarkable hunting trophies from the most notable families and royal castles of imperial Europe are only part of Jeff Gorsuch’s exquisite and unique 25-year collection. Gorsuch, a hunter himself, maintains the majority of his private compilation in Aspen.
“The chase was a privilege for those who not only owned large amounts of land, but those who could afford to dedicate the land to sport,” explains Jeff Gorsuch. “Eckartsau was Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s castle, and the home from which most of the finest antlers in my collection originate. These trophies, with their detailed descriptions, bear witness to these hunting parties and their participants.” History buffs will recall the Archduke’s notoriety. He, along with fellow hunter Kaiser Wilhelm, played a crucial role in igniting World War I.
Notable among Gorsuch’s rare pieces are the royal red stags, fallow deer, and roe buck mounts that bear black and red crosses. They are dedicated to the descendants of
the Knights Templar and the Freemasons. From Styria, the Rothschild hunting lodge situated in the Kammerhof in Austria—one of Europe’s most notable hunting lodges—comes an extremely rare pair of twin royal red stags in terra cotta mount. Eulenburg hunt trophies showcase the Wappen shields from high-ranking officials from the Franco-Russian War, accumulated during a hunt party assembled by Kaiser Wilhelm.
“The staggering size and beauty of this collection is a clear indicator that they are from imperial forests, forbidden to anyone hunting without the emperor’s or the archduke’s permission or presence,” says Gorsuch. “It’s a glimpse and connection to a time long past, and represents the finest examples from the most notable schloss, royal houses, and families of imperial Europe.”