Project Information
I was commissioned to give this antique one horse cutter a new life. The owner discovered it's skeletal remains in a swamp on his 750 acre country retreat. I beleive it to be closely related to the Portland cutter sleigh, though I did not find any model that shared all of it's components exactly. This sleigh was probably built in Granby Quebec in between 1860 and 1900 but there is no true confirmation of it's origins yet. It is beleived that the last horse pulling the sleigh sunk in a marsh hole and the sleigh was left there for some unknown reason. Notice the tree that grew up through a part of one ski brace, a very good indicator of the minimum number of years that the sleigh layed still.
When I was asked to do this project it sounded as if it was a sleigh that needed some repairs. I was quick to say no problem. I was quite surprised to see the pile of twisted metal and well aged wood pieces when they arrived. The owner requested I use as little new wood as possible and assemble everything in a way that it gives the viewer only an idea of what used to be. It is now an artistic private museum piece that holds with in it many untold stories. Thank-you for the opportunity Mr.Favretto.
When I was asked to do this project it sounded as if it was a sleigh that needed some repairs. I was quick to say no problem. I was quite surprised to see the pile of twisted metal and well aged wood pieces when they arrived. The owner requested I use as little new wood as possible and assemble everything in a way that it gives the viewer only an idea of what used to be. It is now an artistic private museum piece that holds with in it many untold stories. Thank-you for the opportunity Mr.Favretto.
