Sadness Sculpture

Raven Armoury is a small family company of English Swordmakers established in 1987 by Simon Fearnhamm. Specialising in made to order work, Simon, now joined by his three sons, creates highest quality reproductions of original swords and daggers, as well as contemporary designs. Inspiration for making swords and knives began with an interest in fantasy fiction and legends from an early age. Simon later started making reproductions of swords in the Tower of London for the Royal Armouries and originals from other collections. From members of the Armed Forces and lovers of history, to royalty and rock stars, movie directors and collectors, Raven Armoury has a long and established tradition of working with clients from around the world. Over the past three decades Simon has forged an enviable reputation for fine quality, handmade swords. He has also become renowned for his sculpture work, mostly involving skeletons and bones. SKELEMENTAL represents the sculpture aspect of Raven Armoury. Working with his three sons Simon creates skulls and skeletons in all manner of sizes and poses, some are original works of art and others are produced as small limited editions. Each piece is carefully sculpted in wax then lost-wax cast into steel, bronze or silver. Lifecycles are a common theme throughout Simon's figurative art. ‘The Madness” is a self-portrait of the artist as a bronze skeleton bust suffering a cluster headache. Simon enjoys creative partnerships, and his collaboration with the late stop motion animator Ray Harryhausen resulted in the creation of miniature sculptures of the Children of the Hydra’s Teeth from the cult 60’s film Jason and the Argonauts. Further collaboration with the Ray & Diana Harryhausen Foundation resulted in an edition of bronze sculptures of the titan Talos, using the original moulds made by Ray. Here Simon worked with the artist, Ben Southwell, to complete an unfinished sculpture that Ray Harryhausen started but did not finish. Simon looks upon all his work as art in one form or another - the swords he makes are masterpieces and often involve complex sculpting.