carving – Page 2 – PRAIRIE BENCH

Wooden Crest

by Prairie BenchJanuary 6, 2014December 11, 20190

In the age old tradition of carving family crests on thick wooden shields, we did our own. It’s a representation of a lion on a field of leaves.

Our carver created a fine line etching and finished the work with a custom frame holder. The crest is made out of a few select pieces of fine grain spruce and the holder is fir. Spruce is a softer wood but quite strong and pleasant to carve and whittle. A light stain of mixed antiquing oils was used to penetrate the etching and darken the lines. The piece is soaked in linseed oil and cured to a hard finish. (If you are working with oils, remember to place the rags in a sealed metal container or they might spontaneously ignite. Or hang them outside to dry.)

A retired furniture manufacturer from the UK saw this piece and pronounced it definitely guild quality. We don’t know about all that, but humbled considering we are just whittling out back.

Approximate size: 31″ x 21″ x 1.5″ thick with a 5% curve.

Wolf Throne

by Prairie BenchSeptember 11, 2013November 29, 20158

Continuing with the Elk and Wolf Dining Project, the frames for the two thrones are complete. Each uses hazelnut posts with balsam fir supports. The backboard and seat are Sitka Spruce. The dowels are hazelnut and hemlock. No screws or nails are used, just glue and pressure. The posts were measured to fit then hand chiseled to fit the interlocking fir supports. No stain was used, just clear finish and some charcoal was sanded into the joints.

The hazelnut posts are grown onsite and have a muscular, sinew look with a slight purple hue. The spruce backboard is from an old log claimed from the Fraser river by a local tug operator. The arms have carved paws and there a some roughed meadow leaves and branches on the edges and seat. When sitting, the wolf appears to be looking over your shoulder, a bit scary and intimidating for your subjects. That’s the look we wanted!

The seat had a natural band that seems to create a scene with a knot moon in the background. Wood contains it’s own art, but it was fun to add our carving of a wolf. So much fun, we made a spruce shield to indicate when the Wolf King or Queen was in town. If the shield is hanging on the throne, the wolf is around.

Check back to see the Elk throne. It’s almost done.

Timber Wolf Shield

by Prairie BenchMay 13, 2013November 29, 20150

Using our shield frame, the ‘Timber Wolf’ is carved in spruce, uses a braided sisal handle and has garnets for eyes. The gemstones hold the slightest red light and give the piece an ominous look. The grain of the wood dictated the outcome and suggested the wolf idea. The result, a Prairie Bench impression of the classic big, bad wolf.

The finish is a Prairie Bench Rustic Brown. This was a fun project and expect another with more dimension.

size: approx 22″ x 20″
#410-BL-05-13

Owl Woodcut Shield

by Prairie BenchOctober 18, 2012November 29, 20150

This is our second woodcut owl shield/mask. Designed at 70% of the size of our original owl shield, this version replicates a small Phoenician or Mycenaean defensive shield used in close contact. As a mask, the owl represents the forest watcher and sage, the wise storyteller with intuitive insight.

The owl woodcut is approximately 18″ across with a five degree barrel curve. There are no screws or nails in the design which maximizes use of our reclaimed fir and spruce stock. This owl is finished in a chocolate walnut stain and lightly sanded on the outer feathers to give the appearance of our local Barred Owl.

Signed original: #110-BL-10-12

Dragon Shield 2

by Prairie BenchMarch 7, 2012November 29, 20152

The designing and carving the first dragon shield was so much fun, that we tried another version. This increases the arch by 2 degrees with each stave. The result is a more aerodynamic shield with excellent dragon defense qualities. The woodcut design follows the original sketch, however each carving is unique and no two give off the same tone or sense of foreboding. Ideal mounted above a fireplace or in a place of honor above your dragon memorabilia.

63-BL-02-12 Fashioned in reclaimed spruce and fir with rosewood and linseed oils.