Antique shooting target from Germany dated 1810

An extraordinary antique shooting target from Germany, dated 1810, originally used at traditional local folk shooting festivals and marksmanship events. Featuring beautifully aged hand-painted decoration, historic lettering, and authentic bullet marks from centuries past, this rare piece is rich in character and European folk art charm. A remarkable decorative object with exceptional patina and a fascinating glimpse into early 19th-century German cultural traditions.

The inscription on the historic shooting target is written in an older German dialect and refers to the Napoleonic era. Here is the meaning of the individual parts:

* “Brent mir heunt recht Poller an”: This roughly means “Light off a proper volley of salutes for me today.” A “Poller” (Pöller/Böller) is a small cannon or device used for salutes. The word “brent” (brennt) here refers to the ignition of the gunpowder.

* “Vor LOISE und NAPOLEON”: This is a dedication in honor of Marie-Louise of Austria and Napoleon Bonaparte.

Historical Background: The object is 1810. In that year, Napoleon married the Austrian imperial princess Marie-Louise (often simply called “Loise”). Such targets were often painted with current political events or figures to celebrate the occasion of the shooting. The inscription is thus a festive call to make a proper racket (set off firecrackers) in honor of the imperial couple.

Such unique and rare pieces are found almost exclusively in museums in Germany, where some of them are in much poorer condition. This is one of the highlights of this container, and we are proud to bring this original museum piece from Munich, Germany, to the United States.