In Courtney Summers' I'm the Girl, much of the plot focuses on the mysterious, imposing Aspera resort. Part of what gives Aspera its exotic and vaguely menacing atmosphere is the fact that its luxurious interiors are heavily decorated with deer antlers (the book's endpapers also contain images of antlers). For Matthew Hayes, the owner of Aspera, these trophies—and the game hunting they represent—symbolize power and virility. Aspera's interior design also participates in a centuries-old tradition of decorating with the antlers and horns of animals.

Chandeliers made from deer antlers date back to 15th-century castles and manor homes of European nobility, a rustic yet powerful contrast to the perhaps more obvious luxury of fixtures made from gold. Elaborate decorative pieces constructed of antlers or horns were markers of wealth and prestige, as opposed to purely functional antler hooks or hangers one might find in humbler homes. These pieces were extravagantly designed...