Weathered Antler Chandelier

Cast-Offs, Re-imagined

Bucks (male deer) shed their antlers every year, to reduce stress on their systems during the winter.

They use antlers to attract does and to fight other bucks.  In general, bigger antlers can indicate an older animal.

Moving to our new place on the river gave me a whole new appreciation for deer. They’re common here and tend to be a nuisance.  That means they get fenced out of gardens and end up on the fringes—which is where I come in.

They hang around here because there’s a lot of browse: cottonwood trees, and maples. They eat the fallen leaves like potato chips, and the samaras (seed pods) for dessert.

They also like apples—and the trees that produce them—pruning them into a mushroom shape, flat on the bottom.

I've seen them cross the river, wading carefully across, to get to more browse on the other side.

After the rut—when the does are receptive—bucks shed their antlers, leaving them on the ground.

These particular ones were shed a long time ago, probably decades, which accounts for how bleached and weathered they are.

They’re so intriguing and magical in their shapes and curves—like snowflakes, no two are alike. They are so effective in crafts, but also interesting enough to be displayed alone as a sculpture.

Collecting them at this stage is easy, as the white colour stands out against the grass.  In winter, they would disappear under the snow. 

I'm actually surprised that they haven't been chewed much by other animals for the minerals they contain.  Dogs certainly like the fresh ones, but these don't have a lot of appeal.

I had two thoughts about how to make this project; the first was to attach the antlers to the top of a standing light fixture, with the addition of a string of LED lights. 

The other is to make it into a swag lamp, with a chain to hold the cord. The LED lights are on a long (16') tape, with double-sided adhesive backing.

I'll have to decide which direction this project will go in; either way, chandelier or swag, it will be unique and totally different.  And who knows; maybe another solution will serendipitously appear.

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After unboxing the light, which is a roll of tiny LED lights on a tape, I came to the conclusion that a chandelier wouldn't work as the cord is too short to go all the way up to the ceiling and back, so I'm using Plan B: refurbishing a standing lamp.

Stay tuned!

In the end I sold this piece, as is, to a friend who will enjoy it for years to come, whether they hang it like this, or place it on top of a stand.