Friday, March 25, 2011

Burnside Bridge Bench

Evocative Burnside Bridge spans Antietam Creek, site of the September 1862 Battle of Antietam.


Taking pen, and colored pencil in hand, I've rendered this historic bridge on one of my period five-board benches, a commemorative piece for the upcoming 150th anniversary of the battle.



(click on image to enlarge)

As with all of my pieces, each drawing is an original work, rendered in ink and colored pencil...


signed and dated.


My benches are based upon the classic five-board design so much a fixture in Civil War encampments.  The basic design is hard to improve upon, nonetheless mine are much more durable as I use steel screws to assemble them.  The screw-heads are countersunk and hidden with hardwood pegs that I glue and drive in with a wooden mallet.



A light stain brings out the grain, and simple details like circular or valentine heart relief cuts complete the design.   Simpler is better.


 Each bench gets three coats of durable spar varnish to keep it looking beautiful in your garden...

or your library.


Get your sesquicentennial on!

Mannie