Unique Candle Holders

It is official, we are now adding candle holders to items that you can order online . To mark the event, we have added 2 colored frogs and a simple aeonium  to our initial offering.

The frog candle holder at a height of 15” and width of 5” is a handsome piece perfect for the center of any dining table as a single piece or as part of a fun collection of candle holders. The frog is available in mottled green, mottled red or in a more muted antique oil rubbed finish. The green and red mottled frogs were inspired by the poisonous dart frogs of  south America who use their bright colors to help ward of predators. The poison of the frogs provided a useful coating for the dart heads of indigenous hunters which explains how they came to be named.

The frog is a decorative accent on this succulent inspired candle holder. The base was inspired by the aeonium plant family, while the stem was inspired by the dramatic center shoot of an of an agave plant.

The red and green markings are hot patinas of red and green dye oxides skillfully applied by brush to the  heated surface of the frog. A propane flame source is used to heat the frog to a temperature that will allow the dye to bond to the surface. Once the red or green markings are set, the contrasting black spots and stripes are applied using a cold acidic solution.

 The frog on the candle holder is created using the same mold we use to create the frog cabinet pull. At the wax stage we bend the frog’s legs and meld them in climbing position to the wax stem of the candle stick. Six molds and six waxes are used to create the candle holder, 3 for the base, 1 for the stem, 1 for the frog and 1 for the candle  holder. Once cast, the 6 components are welded together and patinaed.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We have tried to make our dog and cat knobs a little scary by superimposing these images on a black and orange back-drop and by adding fangs, fake blood and scary eyes but should you like to see these 3 handsome characters unadorned please check out the links below.

Siamese Door Accessories - door knobs, knockers and pulls

English Bulldog

German Shepherd Door Knocker

Paso Robles Tree Inspiration

We recently escaped the urban scene of Los Angeles and took a brief camping trip into the rolling hills of Paso Robles. As many know, this area is a frequent haunt for Martin Pierce  and was the inspiration for his collection of wine cellar door handles and vine cabinet pulls.
For this visit we decided to camp and pitched our tent in the undeveloped acreage of  absentee friends who wisely were escaping the heat. The experience was challenging with  temperatures ranging from 101 degrees during the day to an almost bearable 80° at night. When the heat proved too much we drove to Cambria where the marine fog engulfed the coastline creating a chilly 70° temperature. The fog plays a critical role in the surrounding foliage bringing moisture to the trees and grasses of Paso Robles 30 miles in land.
Lichen on the local live oak trees plays a key role in this ecosystem providing food, shelter and nesting materials to deer, mice, squirrels and other mammals. Lichens are not, as I mistakenly thought, a type of plant but rather a remarkable organism made of algae and fungus that obtain all their nutrients from the air rather than soil. The fungal aspect of this organism provides a structure for the algae and the algae provides food for the fungus. Like plants, lichens use the sun through a process of photosynthesis to convert the food to energy in return giving back valuable oxygen. Lichen also removes pollutants in the air by trapping larger particles and absorbing smaller particles of nitrogen and sulfur.

Our mornings often began with the sounds of Nuttall woodpeckers tapping tree trunks to find grubs as well as suitable larders for acorns harvested from the live oaks. A more generic woodpecker was the model for our woodpecker door knocker that also functions as a door pull.

Playful Positioning of A Woodpecker Door Knocker

The bark of the live oaks has a beautiful texture and their inspiration is clear to see in the backplates and escutcheons of the lizard collection of door handles.

Playful Positioning of A Lizard Entry Lever

Brushed Stainless Steel Door Handles

A recent order prompted a return to the light box to see if we could photograph the luster of brushed rather than polished stainless steel. The lightbox had to be reconstructed to fit the 35” length of the Ergo Epic handle and even then, it was a very tight fit. The Ergo grip was photographed on a golden satin fabric using a Canon ESO Rebel with diffuse light created from overhead rows of LED light cells. The walls of the box are covered in a reflective foil to focus the light on the object and the floor and back wall are usually covered with a black or white backdrop.

How to Brush Stainless Steel

1.     Angle grinder with a blade attachment is used to cut off any gates left from the  casting stage.

2.     Angle grinder using a very coarse grit disk that removes any major surface imperfection. This sometimes will reveal a small crater or void caused by an air bubble that occurred during casting which will need to be filled with steel weld before going further.

3.     A handheld burnisher with an 80 grit sanding drum is next applied to begin buffing and refining the surface.

4.     A second burnisher machine is used with a dual grit scotch-brite sandpaper drum with successively finer grit drums.

5.     The final burnishing is done by hand with scotch-brite pads.

6.     Lastly the piece is passivated.

 Passivation

 316 Stainless steel is known for its rust resistance so what is oxidation and why is passivation necessary? 316 stainless steel is an alloy comprised of iron, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and carbon. Chromium reacts to oxygen in the air and this oxidation process creates a protective layer on the surface of the stainless steel that acts as a barrier to corrosive forces like salt air. It is the iron component in metal that rusts and while 316 develops a protective coat, during the burnishing process contaminants can attach to the surface. Hence the final stage is to passivate the piece by immersing it  in a bath of citric acid solution which strips any iron contaminants from the surface and bonds with the iron elements to neutralize them and prevent future corrosion.

Persian Cat Functional Art Now A click Away

Having released one dog doorknob as an item that can be purchased online, we needed to placate the cats and have now set the Persian cat to follow in the footsteps of the English Bulldog.

Jackson, our feisty and loving Pitbull is ambivalent when it comes to cats, when stationary he finds them curious but when running his baser instincts show themselves. Martin has rationalized that all a cat needs to do in Jackson’s company is remain still but he failed to tell this to Arlo on a recent outing to Paso Robles but thankfully the diligent cat owner intervened to end the pursuit. Unlike Jackson, Martin Pierce does like cats, and we share a special fondness for the Persian variety.

As with our English Bulldog we are rolling out the  Persian cat door knocker, leash hook, door pull and non-turning dummy knobs  all of which are easily installed using  basic tools and by following our installation guide. The doorknob set at present can only be purchased by contacting us by email or phone as we need to ensure the set is correctly installed by a professional and the correct type of latch is supplied and would prefer to chat with you to trouble shoot the installation. While the simple tubular latch is easy  to install and is included with the door set, customers will first need to check that their door stile is wide enough for the 3” backplate and assess whether their existing knob set has a square or rounded edge faceplate, hence the need for more direct contact with the consumer.

The Persian cat is one of the oldest cat breeds and as its name suggests was bred in Persia the former name for Iran. The breed is distinguished by its snub nose and bulbous cheeks which lend it a comical and youthful countenance. Clearly soft and cuddly, this breed has sturdy legs and a thick body, and seem content  to lounge around  and be indulged by their doting owners.

Bunny Door Handles

If you are fortunate to live in the Hollywood Hills or close to Griffith Park then you will know that our bunny population is thriving. The desert cottontail bunny is our local variety and one I encounter without exception when taking the hill trail east of the Hollywood reservoir. Though they do not have social burrows they tolerate other cottontails which may explain why I often encounter 2 or 3 at a time.

As there name hints these small mammals are able to endure extreme heat and they thermoregulate by staying underground and limiting their foraging to dusk,dawn and night when it is cooler and hopefully they are less visible to predators.

Bunny from the Netsuke Collection of Animal Door Knobs

While they appear prolific they have short life spans or 12 to 18 months and are easy prey for the snakes, bobcats, coyotes owls and other predators whose habitat they share.

In the spring and summer cottontails feed on grasses, green shoots and leaves and the flowers of poppies, bush sunflowers, bluebells and any other flowering plants within their limited reach. In winter they turn to tree bark, seeds and berries and to aid the extraction of nutrients from these cellular fibrous plants they re-consume the food once it has passed through their digestive tract.

Unlike most rabbits, the cottontail does not dig it’s own burrow but appropriates the abandoned dwellings of ground squirrels. Once acquired the burrow for the does will be lined with fur from her body and soft vegetation to form a suitable nest for the 5 litters that the doe typically will have during her short life.

English Bulldog Journey

 It is official we are now starting to make our dog and cat door accessories available for purchase online. Until now we have  eschewed direct online sales as we are a small company without  departments devoted to these tasks. By virtue of being small we cannot make large quantities of products, preferring to maintain a high level of quality by making only a small quantity of pieces. We are taking our first steps with the English Bulldog that can be purchased as a leash hook, door pull, single knob or door knocker all of which are easily installed using the basic tools and by following our installation guide.

 The Bulldog, also known as the English Bulldog or British Bulldog, is a dog breed that Martin Pierce grew up with. Martin’s dog, Sugar, was very typical of this breed being  hefty, muscular and with a somewhat squashed nose and wrinkled face. The breed is a descendant of the larger mastiffs which are said to have been introduced to England by the Romans. Whatever their ancestry this is one of my favorite breeds and feel their expressive jowls and wrinkles are well captured in Martin’s bronze sculptures.

At present the doorknob set can only be purchased by contacting us by email or phone as we need to ensure the set is correctly installed by a professional and the correct type of latch is supplied. While the simple tubular latch is easy  to install and is included in the door set customers will first need to check that their door stile is wide enough for the 3” backplate and assess whether their existing knob set has a square or rounded edge faceplate.

In the News

Excited to share a wonderful article in Bold Journey, an online  space devoted to story telling where the interviewees share their experiences and challenges in a question-answer format.  In the interview I discuss the winding road that has taken us from England to Los Angeles and from making furniture to making hardware and to arriving now at the start of Katydom and the sculptures therein.

Anne and Jackson Martin creates and I begin to imagine the story line

In the interview we discuss the Katydom trailer by the talented filmmaker Maria Ramirez-Adams and her soon to be released short documentary.

Bold Journey for those unfamiliar with the site has continued on from Voyage LA  a online magazine focused on trends in Los Angeles and that featured Martin Pierce when his focus was developing original door handles.

Custom Bathroom Accessories

A small robe hook may not be an obvious way to make a bathroom sparkle but with an original design and a reflective finish that is exactly the outcome. The Willow collection of bathroom fixtures is customarily finished with  an  understated oil rubbed bronze patina that accentuates the overlapping flowing leaves. When the same piece is nickel plated the reflective luster transforms the piece into a gem.

 The Willow Sprig is similarly transformed and, in the image here, was adjusted for mounting as a back- to- back shower door handle.

A small connecting bolt was used to attach the left and right sprigs. The bolt was welded into the back of the sprig on the outside of the shower door while the other end threaded so that it could be screwed on site into the back of the sprig on the inside of the shower door. Once the sprigs are tested and fitted the bolt will be locked in place by a small Allen screw in a pre-drilled and threaded hole on the neck of the sprig.

If an existing cabinet can be refaced with new doors then a centered large pull is a less costly way to make a bold statement. The large orchids below are nickel plated and mounted on a dark framed doors to a bathroom double vanity.

A new vanity opens the door to a truly custom design and in the example below we collaborated with designer  Kellie Beaubelle  to create an orchid spray that spanned all three doors of a vanity in her client’s master bathroom.

HAPPY 4th JULY 2024

From all the creatures of Katydom to all of you, may you have a happy and fun July 4th.

Some of the large insects shown here also participate in the Annual Insect Race that happens in Katydom, a fictional world where humans are small, and insects are large. The rules that govern this annual event ensure that all contestants compete on an equal footing and accordingly all are restricted to ambulatory rather than aerial participation. The Katydids are the custodians of these rules and of other historical matters that are recorded on the wings of the Katydid elders.

The story of Katydom is evolving and we will be providing updates during the year as well as when we celebrate July 4th.

The Stag Beetle below is a major force to be reckoned with in the annual insect race.

The Katydids are custodians but also competitors in the Annual Insect Race

Local Wine Country

Hiking in Santa Monica Wine Country

 As I am not a wine connoisseur, I did not associate the  Santa Monica Mountains with wine tasting and was skeptical about making a date for a 2.5 hour tour in the hills.

However, as the journey through the marine layer of the lowlands made way for the  blue sky and sun of Kanan Dume Canyon, so did my expectations. The drive up this canyon is spectacular, the rugged brush terrain is dotted with flowering yuccas, poppies and mustard brush and  Malibu beach sparkles  blue in the distance. 

“Malibu Wine Hikes” is tucked away up a small road where west Mulholland Highway intersects Zuma Ridge Fire Rd. The site sits just below Saddle Rock and with an astounding 1,000 acres and an elevation at it’s peak of 2,000 ft offers a panoramic view stretching from Westlake Village to Point Magu. Saddle Rock sitting at  2,800 is  a well-known landmark most Los Angelenos know by name if not sight and is a rock that has for centuries figured in the indigenous Chumash culture.

Recently planted vines in the foreground with Mitten Rock in the background

Saddlerock Ranch is the location of Malibu Wine Hikes and is an industrious farm and winery that was established by Ron Stemler who planted the first Sauvignon Blanc vines. When the vine population was expanded to include red grapes, the winery established its reputation for wonderful Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon wines.

The 2.5 mile hike took me through acres of vines that had been recently planted in the wake of the devastating Woolsey fire that decimated the ranch crops and buildings in 2018. Thankfully, the resilience of nature has all but removed most reminders of the fire apart from the stone ruins of the family home and some scarred avocado and oak trees.

 In the Martin Pierce collection of vine door and cabinet hardware our inspiration  for the pieces came from both the lithe green vines as well as the more woody old growth vines.

Recently planted vines in the foreground with Mitten Rock in the background

Bird inspired door handles

Even a modest garden can provide an abundance of stimulus for the patient artist. An avid bird watcher knows that patience and stillness are the main requirements for successfully observing and photographing these garden gems. But even stillness may not be enough to take a snapshot  of nesting Bewick wrens who are on their guard for anything suspicious. To take this shot, Martin Pierce had to hold his iPhone to the side of his head and avert his eyes from the subject.

Photograph by Martin Pierce

A long 400mm lens is also useful and allowed Martin to capture this from a safe distance.

Photograph by Martin Pierce

The bird house was made by Martin 10 years ago, but this is the first time Bewick wrens have turned it into a nest. Possibly the dilapidated nature of the box and debris of leaves and spiders’ webs were exactly the type of décor needed to make a less conspicuous  home. As Bewick wrens typically mate for life and return to the same nesting ground Martin is hoping to see the generations that may follow.

While observing and photographing birds is undoubtedly a rewarding past time, they are for Martin an endless source of inspiration.

When I looked back at some of Martin’s old sketch books it came as no surprise to find these quick sketches.

Living in the Hollywood Hills we  often see red tail hawks who prey on rodents and lizards which are abundant. The image below shows a red tail hawk carrying a squirrel in its talons and being pestered by a crow.

Date of Original Sketch 1990’s

Here crows are shown in flight and again mobbing  a red tail hawk.

Date of Original sketch 1990’s

 Bulbuls that are not native to California can now be seen on a regular basis in Hollywood and Martin’s patience paid off recently when he was able to catch this shot.

Photograph by Martin Pierce

While I have not seen any recent additions to his current sketch book he has divulged that a bird may soon make it to his drawing board as a model for a new Netsuke door knob. That said, the blue jay may also be a contender albeit the scale will have to be significantly reduced from the current large door pull.

Small fine art sculptures

In the world of Katydom, Martin Pierce has been focusing on the dung beetle, a central character in his fictional world of  large insects and small human-like creatures. In the most recent piece, the dung beetle’s ball is repurposed as a climbing frame by a humanoid seeking to mount the thorax of the beetle so they can compete as a team in the Annual Insect Race. It clearly takes practice to achieve a successful mount which explains why the piece is partly named “Fallen Rider”.

 In Katydom neither species nor scale are the source of power or wealth   and coexistence is the social norm. Thus, while the new dung beetle and his ball are smaller than other beetles  in Katydom they are no less valued. By contrast in the present world of commerce scale generally determines weight and when this comes to bronze explains why the smaller sculpture at 5 lbs is less expensive than it’s much larger 12 lb relative.

The dung ball’s organic appearance is reminiscent of the Morphic collection of door handles, but the uneven surface and imperfect edges give it a clay like appearance.  The dung ball will be the focus of other pieces to follow with plans to repurpose it as a fitness center or learning room or summer lodge. 

The current piece is finished in a combination of hot and cold patinas with a  green thorax and head and  dark bronze beetle body and satin brushed light antique ball and polished humanoid.

Color and luster when choosing cabinet handles

 Silicon bronze is the preferred alloy for many of our cabinet pull castings and it’s high 96% copper level explains it’s red brown tones. The remaining 4% is made up primarily of silicon which is added to increase the strength and durability of the casting.

 When choosing a complimentary pull for a cabinet while the alloy sets the stage for color the luster of the alloy plays an important part as this will determine how much light is reflected and how much color is perceived.

To a skilled designer neither the alloy color or luster are left to chance but are carefully balanced against the cabinet color and other hardware to create a pleasing setting.

Photo Courtesy of Anjali Pollack Design

Finish of Sprig Pull: Satin Bronze

 Anjali Pollack, a well known international designer based in New York recently shared with me photos she took of the Willow sprigs she commissioned in bronze for a wet bar in a Manhattan residence. When choosing, Anjali Pollack considered the sprig in light and dark patinas and lusters ranging from brushed to polished. The result is a sophisticated welcoming wet bar come art nook. The sink and faucet are both in a satin nickel finish and the top is inset with  an antique highly reflective glass.

Finish top to bottom; Polished, Satin,Light Antique patina on Satin, Dark Antique on Satin.

 The sprig pull is a collections of willow leaves that are directional and make a left or right hand cabinet door pull. The leaves form deep crevices which are accentuated when the sprig is finished with a dark patina. The dark patina absorbs light and does not reflect the color of surrounding color, contrast this with the satin lightly polished finish chosen by Anjali Pollack which beautifully picks up the surrounding green grey and tones of the cabinet and walls.

Brushed, satin and polished finishes in metal are created by applying different grades of abrasive compounds to the surface of the piece and by moving the belt sander in a circular or directional way. As you progress from coarse to finer grits, so to do the machine lines left in the surface until an extremely fine grit leaves almost no visible surface line resulting in a highly polished finish.

Art in Nature

The Art in Nature

Were we trying to trace the origins of many of the plants and trees at Huntington Gardens? There were times when our trip to Japan felt like a comparison with the beauty closer to home. 

 We visited Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara and Kanazawa destinations all linked by the respect for nature evident in the countless public gardens regardless of the density of the local population. Case in point being the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden and east gardens that flanked the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, a megalopolis of 37 million inhabitants. 

Japan is correctly regarded as the home of the Cherry tree, hardly surprising for a country that has over 600 varieties of Cherry Tree and that celebrates the blooming in April with “Hanami”  a word that translates to the viewing of Cherry blossom, a custom that the Japanese generously share with many US and European visitors.

 All 4 locations had wonderful examples of the most prolific Yoshiro Cherry tree revered for its smaller pale flowers and of the Kanzan Cherry with dark pink flowers and a tree that we also see in Los Angeles.

Shinjuku Gyoen Garden Tokyo

Yoshiro Cherry Tree Asakusa Area Tokyo

The artistry of the public gardens is made possible by the skill and aesthetic that arborists and gardeners bring to their daily tasks. These artisans have a sensibility that follows the natural inclination of the trees and plants they tend. The gardens that result are organic, balanced and beautiful and do not appear contrived or formal.

Grounds at Todai-ji in Nara

Finer Details

The Buddhist temples from those at Asakusa, Tokyo to Todai-ji in Nara were grand in scale and vividly decorated with lacquer and gold leaf. At the entrance a large bowl of water with wooden ladles was used by many to cleanse their hands and minds before entering. Todai-ji in Nara is one of the largest wooden structures in the world measuring 50 square meters and fittingly is home to one of the largest Buddha statues. The Buddha at Todai-ji is also remarkable from a casting and carving perspective and could only be created by the toil of many skilled carvers and metal workers a feat that took decades to accomplish.

Todai-ji Temple Buddha in bronze

 In Kanazawa we visited a home once occupied by a very high-ranking Samurai. The rank of this Samurai was visible in the artisans he was able to employ to carve freezes and detailed nail head covers the latter being firstly carved in  either wood or clay and then cast in bronze. These small details are very typical of what can be seen widely in the Netsuke art in Japanese antiques from clothing and bag toggles to bottle stoppers to belt buckles. For those who appreciate Netsuke more of these wonderful pieces can be seen in Virginia Atchley’s book “The Virginia Atchley collection of miniature arts”

Dragon nail head covers in bronze

We offer a collection of Netsuke door knobs and while they are not as old they too are cast in bronze and feature a dragon.

The home we visited was 200 years old, its predecessors’ structures having being raised to the ground by aggressor Samurai clans. By contrast the garden within was 400 years old and home to the largest Koi fish we have ever seen.

In Japanese culture koi fish ascend from water to become dragons. It’s water based origin helps explain why Japanese dragons do not breathe fire but fire-killing watery vapor an extremely useful talent in a country that historically built its structures in wood.

Fish Door Pulls

Making of Katydid

The latest insect in Martin Pierce’s collection of bronze insects and humanoid sculptures is complete. From design to mold and now to bronze, the Katydid, a central figure in Martin’s fictional world is being released as a limited edition of 30 pieces.

The story of this fictional world has evolved, and we now discover that this realm was named Katydom after the Katydids who were the original cultural custodians of this new society.

We discover that Katydids began the insect race, a competition that is central to the inhabitants of Katydom and that is held each year. Together they drafted the rules of the insect race, central to which is the rule prohibiting flying. With their long legs and great stride, you might incorrectly believe that the race favors the Katydid competitor but while their limbs have length, they lack strength and are slow moving competitors.

 The Katydid is more than an agile long-legged creature and has over time become the trusted custodian of all insect folk lore whether this be told pictorially or by writing. Much of the folklore is recorded as writing and symbols on the wings of many Katydid elders.

As the story develops so does the inspiration for new pieces for the collection. Currently Martin’s is designing a large Katydid wing with small illustrations of the landscape and inhabitants of Katydom.

 Video Announcement

“The Making of Katydid” is also the title of Maria Ramirez-Adam’s recent video that can be streamed online. With acumen Maria, in this short but detailed work has captured the progression of this piece from design to mold to sculpture. Her editorial skills allow us to clearly understand how and why Katydid’s wings are welded to the body and how the body of the insect is hollow cast. The film ends with clips of the hot patina process, and we see how the brown translucent pigment is applied and how the sculpture is then finished with hot wax which is burnished when cool.

While the content of the film is engaging its ability to captivate the viewer owes more to Maria’s skill as a perceptive film maker and to the fabulous audio quality captured by Craig Parker Adams, Winslow Ct. Studio

Stay Tuned for the Sequel

A short feature video is currently in post production and when released we will learn how Katydom was created and the roles played by it’s characters.

Maria Ramirez-Adams is a Los Angeles based videographer and artist and her work covers many hip aspects of local culture from reels showing the flare of local Pachucos and Pachuca to fascinating clips of jets arriving and leaving LAX.

Color Patinas For bronze

The intense colors of spring have inspired a new range of hot patinas that can be custom ordered for select insects pulls.

Dragonfly

The blue dasher is part the dragonfly family which is one of the largest insect groups in the world. Dragonflies are part of the skimmer family a name that aptly describes how they hover over water when mating and laying their eggs.

The red veined darter inspired our first dragonfly cabinet pull and the original carving and first castings were made in 1995. The first pieces in the cabinet pull collection were designed for our Ascot and Aspen limited edition furniture designs.

Common Blue Butterfly

Is a small butterfly most seen in the U.K and Ireland where it favors cool grassy meadows and woodlands.

Green long winged butterfly

The striking green- black markings of this long-winged butterfly were the basis for a new custom hot patina shown here. Butterflies and moths often display a distinctive array of colored patterns, and their geometry and repetition inspired our first butterfly pull which we used as cabinet door pulls on our Seicho style buffet.

Yellow Black bumble bee

Sadly, this bee, like many other insects is in decline through loss of habitat, pesticides, and inbreeding.

Hot patinas reason for minimum order

Creating a hot patina requires dexterity, a blow torch and keen concentration. The surface of the bronze needs to be finely sand blasted so that the surface has a slightly pitted texture. The pitted texture prevents the patina from sloughing off which is what would happen on a highly polished surface. Once sand blasted, the piece is firmly held with pliers and heated with a blow torch. Once hot the colored dye oxide is applied with a fine brush. During this process the piece must be repeatedly torched to maintain the temperature. The heat acts to open the surface pores of the metal thereby allowing the oxide to penetrate. The temperature is critical as too much heat will cause the oxide to crystallize and burn. The preparation of the piece and of the work area and tools are all time consuming and for this reason we require a minimum of 3 pieces for each order.

Hollywood - Citrus in the Hills

2023 and 2024 have been remarkable years for the tree life and the innate beauty of the Hollywood Hills. Tourists on sightseeing buses arrive daily in Hollywood looking for a chance photo opportunity of a celebrity or at least a selfie against the backdrop of the Hollywood sign.  What they are missing are the far more abundant opportunities to collect the lemons, oranges and grapefruits currently abundant and often stacked in piles on lawns with signs shouting “free”. Historians have documented how Los Angeles was once full of citrus groves and while most have given way to development many still thrive in Hollywood.

Meyer Lemons Ready to Pick

The El Niño  rains from last year have fueled these  local citrus trees and have  also quenched the dry hills turning them into a Hawaiian paradise.

The clarity of the air makes vistas brighter and horizons seem further. From Mulholland Dr you can see the cargo vessels on the Pacific ocean off the shores of Malibu. The freshness of the air and the expanded views are not romantic illusions  but are  grounded in the scientific  process of coagulation which describes the coming together of particles that are suspended in rain and pulled down to the soil, leaving a clean lens to view the scenery.

Unsuspecting Magnolia unaware of it’s lethal neighbor

The local Hollywood trees are also the beneficiaries of El Niño with their magnificent leaves and stunning though sometimes sinister flowers. I spied this interesting couple outside a neighbor’s home where the toxic Brugmansia shares the soil with a benign saucer magnolia tree. The Brugmansia tree, commonly and perversely named Angel Trumpet is toxic and indeed potentially lethal from its flowers to its roots.

Less lethal and thankfully more prolific are the  Cotulla lineariloba flowers which translated mean big yellow moon which seems odd given the small ½” diameter flower head.

The vitality of the plants around me has obviously brought out my playful streak as captured in the native daisies shown here.

Year of The Wood Dragon

The Chinese Year of the Dragon began on February 10th, 2024, continues until January 28th 2025.The Chinese zodiac follows the moon and is divided into 12 year cycles. Each cycle is represented by an animal which includes a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.

 The English word zodiac dates back to the Roman and Greek periods and  the 12 symbols represent the months of the calendar. The word zodiac derives from the Greek word zōdiakòs kýklos meaning circle or cycle of animals. While the zodiac signs do include a ram, bull,crab,lion,scorpion, and goat, the signs actually represent the Greek Gods and rather than following only the moon they follow the paths of different star constellations.

In the Chinese zodiac the 12-year cycles represented by animals are also associated with the five elements; wood, fire, earth, metal and water. In Chinese philosophy the ancient philosophers believed that we could understand our world by looking to these 5 types of energy and how they change. This is the year of the Wood Dragon which is considered the first phase in the cycle of growth and that is aptly depicted by the Chinese symbol for tree.

 Our inspiration for the dragon door knob came from watching Game of Thrones and from Daenary’s wonderfully animated fire- breathing friends. Their depiction as powerful scaled beings was central to our much smaller dragon. At a height of 3” and weighing 2lbs and based on the dragons’ wing length of being 196’ I have guessed our bronze version if scaled to this size would be an impressive 20-ton creature.

In honor of the Wood Dragon, we have created a scene using our Hedgerow trees to form a landscape to celebrate this year.

Art of fine bronze casting

When a pristine door handle is viewed it may be difficult to grasp just how much time and skill is devoted to cleaning and fine tuning the details of the casting before it is patinaed. This process takes hours and sometimes days and some of the steps are shown below.

In the lost wax method of casting wax replicas are “gated” and wax runners or rods are attached to the wax patterns at various points so that the molten bronze can flow through these connections and pass through the gates and  fill the cavity of the shelled piece. Once cast, the runners that connect the individual castings are cut and the bronze can be recycled but a small gate end is left, and this is removed using a cut-off wheel on a hand held grinder.

The casting may contain tiny silica fragments  that were left after the wax piece was shelled that need to be removed. A handheld metal burnisher with a flap wheel made of scotch brite and sand paper is used to remove shell fragments as well as scratches, blemishes and bubbles buried beneath the surface of the casting. When bronze is poured tiny pockets of air underneath the surface are  sometimes created and are only seen once the casting is buffed when they show themselves as tiny dimples or voids. To fill the void a silicon bronze rod is melted with a TIG welder and drops of melted rod fill these voids.

Below left a grinder with coarse grade cut-off wheel. Below right a handheld burnisher with a medium coarse wheel flap and a green very coarse wheel flap.

While the burnisher is an extremely effective tool it takes a fine dremel to get into the veins and undercuts of a casting. The image here shows the tip of the dremel burr as it removes residual white shell from the leaf vein. A  dremel is an invaluable tool for fine detail and a good one will come with several burrs, rasps and files. The dremel bits are made from tungsten carbide steel and fit into the dremel socket which when rotating at a high speed can cut and grind silicon bronze and even 316 stainless steel.

A fixed buffing machine with coarse and fine scotch brite disks is used to clean remaining marks or scratches. The casting is pushed into the path of the rotating disk which removes a small amount of the surface. A consistent and even pressure needs to be applied with the buffing disk to avoid unwanted grooves and directional marks.