Detailed profile of this breed: origin, year of creation, recognised varieties and official approvals.
Breed summary
The name Noir de Vienne literally means “Black of Vienna.” It refers to a rabbit type distinguished by a solid, deep black coat and a generally dark-eyed appearance. Qualitatively, descriptions that use this name point to a uniform black pelage, a classic compact to commercial conformation and a calm, utilitarian temperament reported by some breeders. Quantitatively, authoritative information is scarce: as of my last verification there is no widely available, formal breed standard in major rabbit registries under this exact name, and published, verified measurements (standard weight ranges, detailed conformation points) are not documented in accessible reference sources.
Detailed origin
The precise origins of the name are uncertain. Qualitatively, the toponym may refer either to the city of Vienna (Wien) or to the French department named Vienne; both possibilities appear in common-language use and local breeder traditions. There is no firmly documented founding breeder, date or official stud-book entry that I can reliably cite. Quantitatively, there are no verifiable archival records or registration dates available in the major national or international breed registries for a recognized ‘Noir de Vienne’ breed—so an exact origin date or pedigree population size cannot be given from verified sources.
Detailed description
Qualitatively, the defining feature is a consistent, glossy black coat (eumelanic pigmentation). The head, ears and body should show even saturation without marked ticking or silvering if the name denotes a solid-black variety. Geneticly, a true black phenotype is produced by dominant/functional alleles at loci controlling eumelanin (commonly referred to in the literature as the B locus and related pigment genes), but exact genotype of locally named varieties will vary between breeders. Quantitatively, specific metrics (ideal weight, body length, ear length, fur density, or show scoring) are not available in verified breed standards for this name; any numeric figures circulated by hobbyist sources should be treated as approximate and checked against a national club or club of origin if formal recognition is required.