ARTIST/DESIGNER:

THOMAS RAVESTEIN

COMPANY:

TOM BOWS AND ARROWS

DISCIPLINE:

WOODWORKING

STUDIO NUMBER:

WORKSTATION 17

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Functional as well as aesthetically pleasing. Whether you use these for shooting or just to decorate the house the bows and arrows made by Thomas Ravestein tell the story of a weapon system that once was as common as cell phones are today. While now primarily reduced to one of many sport disciplines, archery plays a role in the history of almost any culture. Through crafting and selling these objects while also hosting various workshops, Tom Bows and Arrows aims to let people experience archery in its historical and anthropological context.

Inspired by the ingenuity of the many cultures around the world these archery items are made with efficient use of local and traditional materials that are nowa­days often overlooked and seen as waste like firewood, garden clippings, weeds, rubble, and empty bottles. Through historically proven techniques these items can also be made with minimal tools if needed.

Even today traditional bows and arrows make a viable option for those that want to practice archery while also allowing you to cherish the origin behind it.

Critical makers element: SUSTAINABILITY

The arrows show a variety of styles from around the world as well as time periods, such as plains native American and neolithic European.

The shaft material is made from either shoots of bush wood clippings, such as hazel dogwood or splits from old pinewood planks. These materials would also have been used in the original cultures.

The bindings on the arrows are made from either organic fiber such as sting­ing nettle or animal tendon, which was acquired as a waste product from wildlife management.

The feathers used as fletching for the arrows are mostly from wild birds such as geese and ducks. The used quills can be found in the bird’s habitat in the period when they annually shed their feathers.

The arrowheads are traditionally knapped from either flint rock or glass waste.

The arrows are painted with mostly natural pigments. Though some modern pigment such as ultramarine (in the form of laundry blue) was a common trade item from European colonists to several native American tribes.

Length: Between 65 - 80 cm

Weight: Around 35 grams

Prices: € 25,- (Smaller ones) € 35,- (Longer ones)

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