HOME | DD

Description
A matched pair of systrums made from deer antler and brass. A little over a foot high.

I got this pair of antlers with the tips already cut off, so obviously they were meant to be systrums. I rounded and polished the cuts and the bases, carved spirals in the bases, carved the spiral and wave designs on the fronts (the backs are plain) and stained the edges of the designs. Each systrum has ten pair of brass disks (hand hammered into concave shape) strung on brass wires shaped to keep the disks in place but let them clash together when the systrums are shaken.

This is a good example of the limitations of using a scanner for pictures of 3D objects (which is how most of the pictures in my gallery are done). First, the systrums are too large for my scanner, and I had to scan the top and bottom ends separately (two scans each for two systrums, so four scans altogether) and join the images in Photoshop. Second, because of the shape of the antlers, the ends (which are already lighter in color) are against the glass and brightly lit, while the middle is up about three inches above the glass and only dimly lit. They look much better in actuality, and I hope to have some good camera shots of them later.

UPDATE: Here is a digital camera photo: [link]

Description
A matched pair of systrums made from deer antler and brass. A little over a foot high.

I got this pair of antlers with the tips already cut off, so obviously they were meant to be systrums. I rounded and polished the cuts and the bases, carved spirals in the bases, carved the spiral and wave designs on the fronts (the backs are plain) and stained the edges of the designs. Each systrum has ten pair of brass disks (hand hammered into concave shape) strung on brass wires shaped to keep the disks in place but let them clash together when the systrums are shaken.

This is a good example of the limitations of using a scanner for pictures of 3D objects (which is how most of the pictures in my gallery are done). First, the systrums are too large for my scanner, and I had to scan the top and bottom ends separately (two scans each for two systrums, so four scans altogether) and join the images in Photoshop. Second, because of the shape of the antlers, the ends (which are already lighter in color) are against the glass and brightly lit, while the middle is up about three inches above the glass and only dimly lit. They look much better in actuality, and I hope to have some good camera shots of them later.

UPDATE: Here is a digital camera photo: [link]