Details from a sign next to the owl:

This Owl Sculpture has been created by Tommy Craggs, an award winning local artist. You can view his work on the internet at treesculpting.co.uk.

The tree is one of our historic Oaks, planted in 1892, which was badly damaged in storms last year. When it became apparent that it could not be saved, we looked at ways of keeping it as a feature in the garden and decided that a sculpture would add interest to the area and and keep the tree as a presence in the garden.

The stump is carved with an owl, red squirrels and a woodpecker, all of which used the tree when it was alive. The bark is covered with wonderful lichens and mosses which Tommy has kept as part of the design.

Cragside Owl Sculpture

Cragside Owl Sculpture

18 Comments CherryPie on Aug 15th 2011

18 Responses to “The Owl Sculpture”

  1. Frida says:

    What a beautiful piece of art.

  2. Sean Jeating says:

    Echoing Frida.
    I’d have enlarged the pics even, but for two pics I would not sign a yahoo account.
    Actually, I do intend to never sign a yahoo account.
    Same goes for Facebook.
    Same goes for …

    • CherryPie says:

      Unfortunately the cost of hosting full size pictures directly on my blog is prohibitive…

      My photo sharing originated on Flickr, which sadly got overtaken by Yahoo. It is still the best way that I know of to share my photos…

  3. I love it. Great sculpture

  4. Claude says:

    Magnificent! And so appropriate. Thank you for sharing, Cherie.:-)
    I have some abstract wooden sculptures in my home. One is in Ontario White Ash, 3′ 4″, called “Solitude is Strength” (tom feenstra). I wrote:

    RESURRECTION

    Some trees
    are born to be reborn
    dead wood and breathing hands
    meeting
    with an urgent meaning

    a seed planted in the ground
    a seed planted in a Man

    exciting new being
    forever tree
    deeply rooted to the earth.

    (CPG…1982)

  5. Marcie says:

    This is amazing!! I’m awestruck. Hard to believe this was carved out of the trunk of that tree. WOW!

    • CherryPie says:

      It is amazing. I found it quite fascinating and had to walk all around it, there are little sculptures in the trunk too. It is a wonderful piece of work.

  6. Chrissy says:

    A wonderful piece of art ~ I always admire people that can work in 3d. Very lovely :)

  7. Mickie Browm says:

    Wonderful sculpture of the owl–I would love to have that in my front yard. Mickie :)

  8. J_on_tour says:

    What a fantastic and tasteful sculpture. This post reminds me that a visit here is long overdue.