Couple Makes Light Fixtures From Antlers
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Mike and Cynthia Bowers of Cedaredge, Colo., know antlers. They’ve been making chandeliers, lamps, appetizer spreaders, bottle openers, key chains, ice cream scoops, and Christmas decorations out of them since the mid-1990s. “We love being creative and artistic,” Cynthia says. “It’s good to make beautiful things for people to use and display in their homes.”
Mike started dabbling with antler art while working as a sales associate for another company. He set up a shop in the back of the Livestock Exchange Building in Denver, where his sister-in-law had an office. He taught himself how to put chandeliers and lighting together and quickly started selling what he had made.
Mike and Cynthia now use a shop in the back of their house. They have wholesale accounts with other galleries in Colorado, Texas and California.
The couple ships their creations all over the United States and Europe. “We have family and employees who are craftsmen,” Cynthia says. “It’s a very dependable crew.”
Browsing through their showrooms, it’s clear the attention to quality runs high. “We never use antlers that are in velvet or still growing,” she explains. “They’re too soft.” The couple also shies away from farm-raised game animals, which eat synthetic diets. “Natural forage is best for elk and deer. It helps grow the hardest and best racks.”
In the spring, locals go into the woods to “shed hunt” for elk and mule deer antlers, common in Colorado. They sell the sheds they find to Mike and Cynthia, who pay them by the pound. Value is based on grade, type, and quality. The Bowers also have a supplier from Canada who hauls white-tail deer and moose antlers to them.
In their shop, drills and drill bits, a band saw, a belt sander and a drill press are used to shape the antlers into art. Chandeliers require exceptional precision. “The little antlers are the most nerve-wracking,” Cynthia says. “Sometimes they break, or the bit gets stuck.”
And yes, the dried marrow that is inside those antlers smells bad. “Some are more stinky than others,” she laughs.
A Dremel tool smooths the holes before electric wires are passed through. Screws anchor two or more antlers together.
The Bowers have crafted hundreds of custom chandeliers based on customers’ requests. One of the largest, 6 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide, now adorns the ceiling of a lodge in Alaska.
“One of the best things to experience,” Cynthia concludes, “is our customers’ reactions. After they’ve hung something we made for their homes, we hear, “Wow!”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike and Cynthia Bowers, The Antler Collection (ph 970-210-4720; antlercollection@gmail.com; www.theantlercollection.com).
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Couple Makes Light Fixtures From Antlers FARM HOME Furniture Mike and Cynthia Bowers of Cedaredge Colo know antlers They’ve been making chandeliers lamps appetizer spreaders bottle openers key chains ice cream scoops and Christmas decorations out of them since the mid-1990s “We love being creative and artistic ” Cynthia says “It’s good to make beautiful things for people to use and display in their homes ” Mike started dabbling with antler art while working as a sales associate for another company He set up a shop in the back of the Livestock Exchange Building in Denver where his sister-in-law had an office He taught himself how to put chandeliers and lighting together and quickly started selling what he had made Mike and Cynthia now use a shop in the back of their house They have wholesale accounts with other galleries in Colorado Texas and California The couple ships their creations all over the United States and Europe “We have family and employees who are craftsmen ” Cynthia says “It’s a very dependable crew ” Browsing through their showrooms it’s clear the attention to quality runs high “We never use antlers that are in velvet or still growing ” she explains “They’re too soft ” The couple also shies away from farm-raised game animals which eat synthetic diets “Natural forage is best for elk and deer It helps grow the hardest and best racks ” In the spring locals go into the woods to “shed hunt” for elk and mule deer antlers common in Colorado They sell the sheds they find to Mike and Cynthia who pay them by the pound Value is based on grade type and quality The Bowers also have a supplier from Canada who hauls white-tail deer and moose antlers to them In their shop drills and drill bits a band saw a belt sander and a drill press are used to shape the antlers into art Chandeliers require exceptional precision “The little antlers are the most nerve-wracking ” Cynthia says “Sometimes they break or the bit gets stuck ” And yes the dried marrow that is inside those antlers smells bad “Some are more stinky than others ” she laughs A Dremel tool smooths the holes before electric wires are passed through Screws anchor two or more antlers together The Bowers have crafted hundreds of custom chandeliers based on customers’ requests One of the largest 6 ft tall and 6 ft wide now adorns the ceiling of a lodge in Alaska “One of the best things to experience ” Cynthia concludes “is our customers’ reactions After they’ve hung something we made for their homes we hear “Wow!” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mike and Cynthia Bowers The Antler Collection ph 970-210-4720; antlercollection@gmail com; www theantlercollection com
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