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I haven't been doing much woodwork lately, life has been taken up doing a artwork for the cover of the soon to be released Pound of Flesh "11" album and focused on clay sculptures, among Solstice Gifts which is more crafting that woodwork. YET.. I managed to squeeze out a commissioned wand with the theme of Thor's hammer "Mjöllnir" with the concept of Karmic Justice, and had to have gemstones.

So here is one of the most detailed and intricate wands I have made to date. over 16" long, fire figured black cherry and gabon ebony. The black cherry is from Rockford and the ebony a close friend of mine picked up a chunk while in Africa some 40 years ago. I wanted the whole thing to look nothing like wood, so I went with the image of a single wrought iron piece wrapped in hard leather. The carvings took many hours spaced over 7 months, from concept, test carving, to execution. There are 8 Garnets, 4 in hammer and 4 alternating with 4 onyx gemstones in the banding between the handle and the ebony. A hand polished smokey quartz in the point. I used copper wire from the tube monitor of an old computer for the banding.

Danish oil and rub on varnish on the cherry… no stain. And polished resin on the ebony keeps it on a shine without flaking off after hands rub it too much. Everyone wants to know how i did the twist of ebony… he he.. far easier than you'd think. People pick it up and think it is leather, even after holding it for a few minutes which the carvings are so tiny you have to hold it close. Celtic carvings, a cat (passive, but scratching) on one end of the hammer… a frog catching a fly on the other.. both to represent how karma kinda gets you back, even in small ways. And the Norse Ruins are Protection, Mankind (the self), Disruption, and Growth…in order below.

Thanks for looking.

















Gallery

Comments

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231 Posts
Wow!
That is impressive. Beautiful.
tom
 

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9 Posts
You're attention to detail is humbling. Very nice work
 

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685 Posts
Very nice work! Awesome stuff.
 

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150 Posts
Amazing! I really did think when I first saw it that it was made from wrought iron instead of ebony. Very cool!

Alan
 

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2,261 Posts
Sweet!
 

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523 Posts
Nicely done sir!
 

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6,114 Posts
Really nice, as a Viking I must say it is really spot on.
Glad to see you.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 

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1,106 Posts
Very impressive techniques used on the wood, as you have succeeded in making it look quite unlike wood. The wrought iron and leather look quite real. Great job!
 

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818 Posts
WOW is all I can say
I have be doing a little reading about the VIKINGS and THOR and have some ideas about a project I would like to do but this is absolutely fantastic
Kiefer
 

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137 Posts
That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen!
 

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806 Posts
Thanks everybody. :)
 

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If your goal was to make something NOT look like wood you succeeded. I still can't believe that's wood. Awesome piece. Thanks for sharing it.
 

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732 Posts
Beautifully done. The owner can't help but be totally satisfied.
 
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