Author Topic: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest  (Read 11601 times)

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Ruddy Darter

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'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« on: November 14, 2015, 05:24:45 pm »
Hi there,
 I saw this section of the forum and thought I'd post some pics of a bowstand I made for a member of my archery club. It's customary to leave your bow behind the shooting line when collecting arrows and I've started making these for some of the traditional archers at our club.
It's carved in white oak planking from a local timber yard, and the eyes are inlays of holly wood with a cross-section of a yew twig for the iris and pupils. It's my version of a medieval Green man commonly found in churches in England and Europe.
https://youtu.be/Xere60BM1IU and a quick vid showing more, the other side is carved with a Norse style deer and Celtic knotwork, but I dont have pics and I don't have the stand anymore.
It's all hand carved with a small flat head chisel and knife and sawing done with a coping saw, I got a few more proper carving chisels recently which should speed things up a little. :D
It all breaks down flat to three pieces for carriage/storage and is fixed together with a couple of dowels.


           Ruddy Darter.
(Sympetrum sanguineum)
« Last Edit: November 14, 2015, 05:35:51 pm by Ruddy Darter »

Offline JW_Halverson

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2015, 05:39:26 pm »
Oh wow......
Guns have triggers. Bicycles have wheels. Trees and bows have wooden limbs.

Offline Del the cat

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2015, 05:49:59 pm »
Woo cool.
I do like the symbolism of the green man :)
Del
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Offline DC

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2015, 07:11:34 pm »
Oh, now you're just showing off. That is awesome. Guys like you just make me want to quit ;D ;D ;D ;D

Offline unkieford

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2015, 07:24:03 pm »
::: looking at my own hands:::  You two are USELESS! Just look at what REAL hands can do!

Seriously amazing work.

---Ford---

Offline bubby

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2015, 12:12:21 am »
Very nice, very nice indeed
failure is an option, everyone fails, it's how you handle it that matters.
The few the proud the 27🏹

Ruddy Darter

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2015, 02:19:16 am »
Thank you very much chaps :)
I really enjoyed carving this piece and may do some more variants of this,  so many ways combining different foliage. There's an exceptional example of a medieval Green Man in a church just two miles from here.
I might have a go at a gargoyle inspired piece when I get a chance >:D.


Ruddy Darter.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2015, 03:32:32 am by Ruddy Darter »

Offline sieddy

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #7 on: November 15, 2015, 06:35:29 am »
Absolutely amazing craftsmanship. You've captured the spirit of merrie England and the greenwood there!  :)
"No man ever broke his bow but another man found a use for the string" Irish proverb

Ruddy Darter

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #8 on: November 15, 2015, 10:09:46 am »
  Thank you sieddy :).



  Ruddy Darter.

Offline Zuma

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #9 on: November 15, 2015, 10:55:44 am »
Do I detect a bit of British in Timber yard :)
Stunning workmanship.
The Chinese Dragon next?
Zuma
If you are a good detective the past is at your feet. The future belongs to Faith.

Ruddy Darter

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #10 on: November 15, 2015, 11:16:30 am »
Thank you Zuma, timber/lumber lol ;D quite possibly,

A Chinese dragon would be cool, but I've just started a bowstand for a lady at my club.  It's work in progress and the carvings are of her request. One side happens to be a dragon, albeit a Welsh style heraldic one, and on the other side the white rose of York, carved from holly that I harvested myself from the end of my road, its only roughed out but here are a couple of pics...the side pieces are yet to be started, and I have some nice thick chunks of oak to do a deep dimensional oak leaf design. The carry handle is an oak strip sandwiched between two slices of holly opposite grain and pine dowelling. (The knotwork will be undulating over and under when finished, and the rose of York has yet to be shaped,and detail and shaping on the dragon yet to be done.)

  Ruddy Darter.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2015, 02:25:32 pm by Ruddy Darter »

Grasshopper Mouse

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #11 on: November 15, 2015, 01:19:23 pm »
Seeing as how my little arrow making business is Greenman Archery, I can't help but love your work. That's some very serious talent you have there. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Guy

Ruddy Darter

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #12 on: November 15, 2015, 02:20:57 pm »
Thank you very much Guy and you are most welcome,
Good fortune and happy ventures with Greenman Archery arrowmaking . 8)

 Ruddy Darter.


« Last Edit: November 15, 2015, 02:47:52 pm by Ruddy Darter »

Offline 4est Trekker

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #13 on: November 15, 2015, 06:32:47 pm »
Gracious!  That's some fine craftsmanship.  Thanks for sharing.   :)
"Walk softly, and carry a bent stick."

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks to God the Father through him."  Col. 3:17

Ruddy Darter

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Re: 'Medieval' Green Man carved bow rest
« Reply #14 on: November 15, 2015, 06:36:21 pm »
Thank you 4est Trekker, you are very welcome  :)

Ruddy Darter.