Indian Chief in Osage Orange (Bois d' Arc)

[Schaef]

My friend Bill called and said he was taking down a huge Bois d' Arc (pronounced "bo-dark", also called Osage Orange) tree, and asked me if I wanted the trunk. This is a beautiful yellowish highly figured wood with a texture that makes rocks seem soft. And it weighs a ton! So I hauled it off, took out the chainsaw and started on an appropriate subject, an Osage Indian chief. My plan is to shape and finish it with hand tools, no sanding, just leaving a sharply strong chiseled look, kinda like you'd want on your chief. I chose to make him confident and optimistic too, and avoid the stereotypical sad look. I will hand detail each feather and add further details to his clothing and headdress.
This piece weighs about 90 lbs. I have already fished the tips from broken gouges out of this wood, but it is just a beautiful grain, and I'm going to keep going! And I think it ages to a bronze color, which is even better. Here are some early pictures. Anybody got ideas on filling the gash in his head?

[Joy]

Wow! I can't believe you are working with bois d'arc. You are right that it makes a stone seem soft!

I love the positive "take" on your Indian. And the grain really adds to the composition.

If it were mine, I wouldn't fill the crack only stabalize it. I find a crack is less distracting that a filled patch.

Beautiful work.

[tnartist05]

Excellent job so far on the Indian in that hard wood! Forrest

[markken5889]

Hi Schaef,

wow- I can't believe you're working on a piece that big out of that wood! (Glad to read you did your rough-out with a chain saw). I did a very small piece of the same wood a few months ago, and boy, was it tough!!!

Great carving. To echo Joy's point, I'd leave the gash. It'll give him more character! Please keep WIP's posted!!!

Mark

[doris]

i am with joy too, and would leave the crack as is, and carve around it, it is not in the face and therfore i would not fill it... wow, you really have a good grasp of facial anatomy, love to see that.,,, i wonder about the height of your carving table, it is very low, are you not getting back pains when carving a little longer ?

[Ron T]

Hi Schaef,

What a great start to a great carving and on such beautiful wood. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished bust.

[Tom-H]

Nice piece, but osage orange??? If I were to attempt to create anything out of that wood I would have to dip way back into an earlier life for a better technique. I am referring to small shaped charges of C4.

Tom H

[chuckbolton]

i have some kitchen utensils made from osage orange--- with no oil other then the grease of cooking for 6-7 yrs they are currently an almost cherry red color-- im surprised because they were the typical yellow green seen in your carving- i found out how hard they are to carve-- but im going to do some more figures in missouri native hardwoods-- dont know what the subject will be - but im looking forward to the endeavor-- i bet that osage orange will hold detail-- might try a santa-- just to do something different-- nice job on the chief-- and yes its heavy-- it produces more heat than any other hardwood in missouri-- and pops -- im told its the moisture in the interior boiling off. ive seen wood stoves get redhot when too much hedge (osage orange) is used in one-- but it sure puts out the heat-- and very littlein the way of ashes----

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Looks great, nice start.

Dave

[Mottles]

This is going to be a really wonderful piece and I'd leave the gash in the head--adds character and interest. I hope you will show some update images as you progress.
Kathy