"Beam Shelf "
The artist came into the possession of an 8"x8" beam of straight-grained California redwood, with the center section removed by a hand-held power beam saw utilizing a 16" blade. The study of this unique shape in the beam inspired the artist to create a wall mounted shelf, with the additions of curly bird’s eye burl redwood sections attached to the shelf’s ends capped by dragon’s heads. The end caps are inspired from the tent posts of the Oseberg Find in Norway and stylized ravens heads from other Viking Age finds. The shelf’s center represent a rising or setting sun or moon as a backdrop to a large Viking warship with its dragon head dismounted to indicate its peaceful mission. The stylized dragon designs framing the ship are of Celtic origin symbolizing the influence of Viking Art on Celtic art. The ship and its stylized border have been inlayed with gold leaf.