Monthly Archives: September 2013

Hammer Horned Giraffe

hammer-horn-giraffe-lr

Here is my second giraffe of the year, Hammer Horned Giraffe. If you look at my post about Hedge Trimmer Giraffe you will know that I started a commission for a 4ft 6 giraffe that rapidly became too big. I put this one aside and made a correctly sized one for my client with the intention of finishing the large one for The Natural Eye, the annual exhibition of the SWLA at the Mall Galleries from 30th October- 10th November.

hammer-horn-giraffe-2-lr

It took an awful lot of work and I was welding right up to the last minute to get the piece ready in time but I am happy with the result.

hammer-horn-giraffe-3-l-r

The bulk of the frame is made up of bow saws and long handles from edging shears and other gardening tools. The lower jaw is made of sheep shears and pliers handles plus old mortar trowels for the ears alongside the hammer heads for the horns. All the patterns are made up of blades from combines or other harvesting machines. The tail is made of auger bits.

giraffe-detail-lr
giraffe-and-harriet-lr

Sole Great Auk

Sole Great Auk - Harriet Mead

I was commissioned to make a life sized Great Auk for a client. I had to look on the internet for pictures of stuffed specimens and found biometrics on line as well. The specimens were very reliant on the skills of the taxidermist so I ended up basing my version of a Great Auk on an oversized Guillemot for the eye position and general feel of the bird.

Sole Great Auk - Harriet Mead

I tried to capture the essence of the bird and was really pleased with the find of a ‘tramp’ or metal sole in my scrap pile. Designed to protect the base of the foot the ‘tramp’ was attached by a strap to the boot and used when doing a lot of digging I believe. The ‘tramp’ forms the back of the bird and allowed me to use a quality pun in the title of the piece ‘Sole Great Auk’.

Sole Great Auk - Harriet Mead

I think it came out surprisingly well considering I had such variable reference and the bird itself is rather ungainly. The ridges on the beak were defined by the use of an old drawer handle and secateurs made up the bulk of the bill.

Sole Great Auk - Harriet Mead