Ragged Mountain Antler Chandeliers aren’t just light fixtures, they’re pieces of art.

There’s a lot more that goes into putting an antler chandelier together than forcing a couple set of antlers to match up. They have to match organically.

The antlers can’t be forced on to each other, they have to be balanced. Our chandeliers are balanced horizontally – so the bottom of the chandelier is on a straight plane as well as the light fixtures – and table lamps are balanced vertically – so there’s two equal sides on each of the lamp shade.

Antler ChandelierHaving lights fixtures on the same horizontal plane lights up the room better than if they were raggedly placed. Getting both the bottom of the chandelier and light fixture on a horitzontal plane can be tricky, but it's certainly worth it. Take a look at the snow flake chandelier on the right. No matter what side you look at it, it's completely balanced.


With that being said, do you think you can weave a couple sets of deer, elk or caribou antlers together without any framework or guidance?

Also, keep in mind the materials used can’t be shaped. There’s no molding or carving of the antlers, nor is there ever any fake or resin antlers used in Ragged Mountain’s antler chandeliers. This is why each project is unique, kind of like each set of antlers. They’re never the same, so each chandelier, lamp, sconce or fireplace stand is 100 percent original and cannot be duplicated. Now that’s art.

Another thing that makes our creations a work of art is the freedom the way our pieces can be designed. Since there's never any internal or external framework to hold the antlers in place or fit them together, each piece can flow how ever it feels, as long as it's balanced. The only way the antlers are held together is through them being tightly woven together and countersunk screwed into each other. Although there is some fastening, it's impossible to tell. That’s how natural the piece looks. Most times, the interwoven pieces are held together so tightly, the countersunk screws are limited in each piece.

The only other really non-natural material that’s used are the antique brass fasteners for the lights emerging from the chandelier, lamp or sconce. These adjustable fasteners allow the lights to be are on the same plane. Antiquing the brass dims down the shine, not taking away from the natural beauty of the antlers. Also, the chain for which holds up the chandelier is also made out of quality brass.

Other companies who make these pieces fail to recognize the importance of using only all-natural material -- some use fake antlers and antler resin to mold thier creations, and almost all of them fail to recognize the importance of a balanced fixture.

Balance not only shows how impressive Ragged Mountain's work is, by naturally creating an equilibrium out of multple sets of antlers put together, but for lighting purposes. Creating balance not only makes the chandeliers aestheically beautiful, but extremely funtional, too.

Since 1988, Ragged Mountain is the original creators of antler chandelier artwork. Its pieces have been shipped throughout North America and Europe and typically take on the focal point of any room.

It’s art. And when looking for someone to create a chandelier out of your set of antlers, it boils down to artistic experience and pride of workmanship -- which goes into evert Ragged Mountain Chandelier piece.

Ragged Mountain Chandelier is now showcasing a few one-of-a-kind pieces on the handmade craftsmanship website Etsy. Check it out today.

The old adage that memories never die certainly rings true every time Shana Stratford turns on the lights in her home.

Shana's Moose ChandelierShana recently drove her Moose antlers from Missoula, MT an hour south through the ice and snow to Ragged Mountain Antler Chandelier in Hamilton, MT to have a special custom antler chandelier made. But these weren’t just any old antlers -- they were Moose antlers from the two most important men in her life -- her husband and late father.

Like all the creations at Ragged Mountain Chandelier, they’re special to those who want a chandelier made, but this one had to have extra meaning. Not only was it going to represent her father, but the moose chandelier had to be made in time to for Shana’s house to have a final appraisal.

“She had a deadline that we put her to the head of the line,” McKinney said.

Putting this project on the front burner, owner Jeanne McKinney and designer Anji went to work with the moose antlers.

But it wasn’t easy.

With a client whose design was embedded in her head, putting that creation to life can be very difficult, especially with moose antlers that aren’t completely symmetrical.

One of the most important part when designing and creating the chandelier is that the piece is balanced and symmetrical from all sides, regardless of how the antlers match up -- which these antler didn't.

“We were dinking around, trying this and that,” McKinney said. “She knew what she wanted, but I didn’t know that we could do it.”

Shana’s antlers were different sizes, but knowing how much these antlers meant to Shana and her family, to go with an impending deadline, McKinney and Anji made it work like they always seem to do.

“When I picked up my chandelier, I literally cried tears of joy because it was more beautiful and emotional than I ever could have imagined,” Shana said. “I drove home like I had a newborn baby in the back of my truck!”

The piece is the most dominant and important piece in Shana’s new home. She said it’s the talking point when people come over and her guests can’t believe how beautiful it looks.

But for how gratifying that is, there’s something about the chandelier that means more than those glowing remarks.

“Every time I look at it, I think of my father and of the incredible experience I had with Jeanne and Anji at Ragged Mountain.”

If you're looking for custom antler chandelier, send in your antlers and let Ragged Mountain create a breathtaking design that you'll never forget.

ragged mountainRecently, Ragged Mountain Chandelier created a beautiful chandelier out of an ensemble of different antlers.

Can you tell how many different animal antlers are in this photo?

Well if you guessed four, you’re right!

The client sent in one mountain caribou, one Yukon moose, one mule deer and three whitetail deer, giving Ragged Mountain Chandelier free reign to create a design.

When finished, the client called “mouth dropping” and “spectacular.”

It’s an unlikely masterpiece with a variety of different animal antlers, which typically doesn’t happen. It makes the process a little more complex, especially when the customer wanted the design to look tight at the bottom, then fray out like he was holding a handful of tall grass.

“He was in awe how everyone angle was so different,” owner Jeanne McKinney said.

McKinney said the project was difficult for her and co-artist Anji, who has been working with Ragged Mountain Chandelier for 18 years. When using three or four antlers of the same animal, you’re connecting symmetrical pieces. But these are more difficult to piece together because the antlers are so different. She said the process took about two months to complete.

“We were holding our breath,” McKinney said. “Sometime we had to walk away, take a breather and comeback and work on it.”

McKinney didn’t have to hold her breath long. Randy Penner, who's sent in his own, mixed antlers before when getting a creation made, couldn’t use enough superlatives to explain how well it looked.

If Ragged Mountain Chandelier can create a beautiful antler chandelier like this using practically random antlers of different animals, they can really do it all.

Antler CollectionsAntler collecting has been going on since man has been hunting animals with antlers. There are a variety of uses for antlers, whether acquired from a hunt or searching for shed antlers while walking through the wilderness. People carve them into artistic designs, they use them for cutlery, or just for display in their home.

Some people have really impressive collections, like the self-proclaimed Antlerman, Jim Phillips. His collection of deer, elk and caribou shed antlers is so massive he actually built a 30-by-64 building to host his collection. He has collected over 15,000 antlers since falling in love with shed antler collecting as a 10-year old in 1958.

Now, for as impressive and massive his collection is, which he’s collected all himself, those antlers just sit there and really don't get any use unless looked upon. The monetary value of the collection is something to be desired, as he said he sold over 1,000 antlers to put his daughters through college, but the everyday use of his collection is nothing more than a trophy case full of antler sheds.
Antler Lights
But what if he could use those antlers every day? Wouldn’t his collection be more impressive and meaningful?

This is one of the best reasons to get an antler chandelier made out of your antler collection. Using just a few of your antlers, you can show your display to people while using the antlers you collected in a beautiful antler chandelier. It'll provide a special decor and accent to your collection and could end up being one of your most prized antler collections.

It could get everyday use and would be something to show for, rather than just an impressive showcase of deer, elk or caribou antlers. Contact Ragged Mountain Antler Chandeliers if interested in turning some of your antler collection into antler lights or antler chandeliers.

Before antler chandelierHey hunters, did you have a successful hunting season? Does your family have their fair share of buck antlers, but have no place to show for it in your trophy room? Well don’t forget about those bucks and get the antlers made into beautiful chandeliers.

With a bundle of your personal and prized deer, elk or caribou antlers, we can create stunning antler chandeliers that will add the perfect accent to any room in your home or cabin. It’s a unique and tasteful way to remind you of your hunting experience.

Whether you want to just send us some antlers and have us create an antler chandelier or be involved in the design process is totally up to you. After antler chandelierThis will make an awesome gift for any avid hunter -- something they will always remember when walking into a room and turning on the lights. It's a true keepsake that will bring them back to that memerable time in the woods.

Remember, by using your own antlers you save 30 percent off the price of an original work of ours. Sounds like a deal. So for an awesome gift any hunting enthusiast will enjoy, send us your antlers and help us create a stunning antler light fixture or chandelier for you or your loved one.

The Reynolds Mansion in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania is home to a charming, custom made Jewel style chandelier that they’ve put in their Trophy Room.

The antler chandelier was actually shortened to custom fit their Trophy room, where it hangs overhead. Also customized for the Reynolds Mansion’s beautiful new chandelier were the shades.

“We build-in accommodations for real, rawhide shades,” said Jeanne McKinney, owner of Ragged Mountain Antler Chandelier.

I think we can all agree the shades add an accent and ambiance than isn’t matched without the rawhide covers over the energy efficient lights.

Innkeepers, Mike and Tricia of The Reynolds Mansion have been nothing but impressed with the quality of materials and workmanship that was involved in making the chandelier.

“We get nothing but compliments on the lights,” they said.

Also in the room, a pair of sconces was made to fit between the mirror and the wall on either side of the mirror, giving it an even more outdoorsy look to really get away from it all.

The room is beautiful without the extra pieces, but the jewel antler chandelier with the sconces really puts the cherry on top of perfection. 

For more information on the Reynolds Mansion and the Trophy Room, click here.

Also, take a look at what we can make out of antlers to suit your home. From custom antler accessories, to beautiful centerpieces and antler chandlers, your imagination is no match for what we’re able to create.

Thank you for checking out our blog! We have been creating antler chandeliers and antler products since 1988. We are experts in our industry. Take a look around our site and view some of our previous products. We look forward to hearing from you!