What we do and why
Rapid Effects is a unique, Sydney based, Australian business that creates art with the sustainable medium that is Deer Antlers. Since 2010, Rapid Effects has been building its profile and legitimacy as the leading Australian antler lighting business. I like to refer to myself as an 'antler engineer', where designing and creating from a natural element that never repeats itself, (just like a fingerprint) is only part of the enjoyable challenge!
NOTE........
NO ANIMALS ARE HARMED IN THE PROCESS. Each antler used in my products, has been naturally cast / shed / dropped annually by the male deer. See 'DEER ANTLER FACTS' below for the full story on antler growth cycles.
Each antler is individually chosen for quality and character. I personally drive from Sydney through NSW, Victoria and South Australia to buy my inventory on an annual basis, just after the antlers are cast. Supporting our deer farmers in an industry that gets very little recognition for their efforts. The relationships that I have built up over the years has morphed from a straight business transaction to friendships forged.
This relational interaction, and the importance of it flows through the rest of my business. Healthy relationships with all of my componentry suppliers has me meeting and ordering supplies in person, rather than online or phone orders. You may think that's old school and behind the times, but that's exactly the same sort of service I will provide to you. A personal experience that will take you on the journey of discovery and understanding into the bespoke piece of lit art that you have your heart set on.
I work closely with Interior Designers, product specifiers, homeowners and hunting enthusiasts. From rich and famous to those that save for years. Everyone gets a personal service. Given the nature of nature, in that, it doesn't repeat itself exactly the same for any antler. Not even a "symmetrical" pair is exactly the same left and right.
No two fittings can ever be a mirror match. Therefore, I will need to engage with my client to understand the parameters, and limitations within an area, to ensure the design that they were inspired by can be created to fit their decor and parameters.
Most of my designs can be made in various sizes. From different diameters to lengths and height can be altered. Depending on the chosen design. This is usually done with selection of the right size antlers. I have 3 main sizes of Red Deer, which is the majority of my work. Medium, large and extra-large (Monster). Some may be shorter in length but have tall points that could interfere with the ceiling height. Some could be long with short points, and too small to make a cohesive visual impact.
Therefore, upon your inquiry, I will usually ask for some specific details, to understand the proposed placement location. Those being, how high is the ceiling where the chandelier will hang? How big is the room in meters? Is the antler chandelier the only source of light in the area? Is there something under the chandelier like a table or bench? Do you (*electrician) have access into the ceiling cavity above where the chandelier will hang? Photos of the proposed location is always helpful as part of the consultation process. Is there a particular colour tone that you have a preference for? (Chocolate, Mid Tones, Blonde).
'Mid tones' is the most common and I usually have a larger inventory stock of that colour tone.
Some designs may have limited colour options from time to time, depending on stock availability.
Each chandelier, wall light and table lamp has been made to the Australian Standards and is tested throughout the manufacturing process for electrical safety and structural integrity.
If you have a specific design that you would like. Please get in touch and I can let you know if I've got that design in stock, or if I don't have that design as a stocked item, I can mock one up to your specific requirements. Custom design requests are always welcome, though good communication is a key for this service.
Deer Antler Facts
There are over forty deer species in the world. Of that, Australia has six species in the wild, and a seventh that is farmed with the other six. The Australian deer that were introduced over one hundred years ago are, Elk (Wapiti), Red, Sambar, Rusa, Hog, Chital and Fallow deer. I predominately work with Red Deer antlers, though I have a supply, and use the other species for some of my products and designs.
Just to be clear. Only deer species grow antlers, that is bone structure that sheds/casts/falls off every year.
Cows, sheep, goats, antelope etc all grow horns. Horns stay on the animal for life. With the exception of the Pronghorn, that is a genus of its own. It will shed/cast its outer horn sheath every year and grow a new keratin layer.
Of the forty deer species in the world, there are a couple that don't grow antlers at all, and the males in turn actually grow a large set of canine/fangs that protrude down from the top lip past their bottom jaw. These being the Chinese water Deer and the Musk deer. Of the rest of the species, except for one, the males are the only sex to grow antlers. They will grow them over the late spring and summer months in approximately one hundred and twenty days, then they will cast/shed them every year in early spring.
The male deer are referred to as Stags, Bucks or Bulls, depending on their species. The only deer species where both sexes grow antlers, is the Reindeer, also known as the Caribou. The females usually grow smaller antlers that they use to help find food under the snow. The growth cycle of their antlers is different to the males. At Christmas time, the males have usually cast/shed their annual antlers, and the females still have theirs. Therefore, Rudolf and his friends that are shown on the Christmas cards must be all females!!
There are a number of changes that occur in the male deer throughout the year. His testosterone levels go up and down in waves. The peaks and troughs of these levels spike the changes, particularly with his antler growth and breeding cycle.
As the antler forms each year, it rises from the pedicle, that is a part of the male scull above his eyes and between his ears. The first part of the antler to form is the coronet. The antler starts its growth as a soft mushroom like lump, covered in short hair follicles, also called velvet. It rises up out of the pedicle, and continues to form the relevant points, or tines for that species, from the bottom points, also known as brow tines, followed by bey then trey tines, before the crown is formed. As the antler grows over the 120-day period, it is fed by a nutrient rich blood supply just under the hairy velvet skin layer. Blood will travel up through blood vessels just under the velvet hairy skin layer, and then travel back into the scull from the gelatinous forming tips. As the antler gets taller, the lower earlier growth morphs from a cartilage soft tissue to a hard bone structure.
As the testosterone levels change again at the end of the antler growth for the year, the bottom of the antler, also known as the coronet, will seal itself up, and no more blood will flow through his honeycomb centre of the antler. With the blood supply shut off, the hairy skin velvet outer layer dries up, and shrinks.
Until this point, he has been very careful not to damage his fancy fighting head dress. He has avoided clashes and impact. Infact, most males will group together in this antler growing season, before parting ways to secure a harem of females. Once the antler blood supply has ceased to flow the antler becomes itchy, and the Stag, Buck or Bull (depending on species) will rub his antlers against trees of fencing posts to remove the velvet skin layer. This will reveal the sharp weapons he will battle with over the mating/rut season that is now only a few weeks away!
He will continue to rub his antlers on trees throughout the year, but in particular, with the impending mating season, he will thrash at bushes and trees to increase the muscle mass in his neck, and hind quarters. This will ensure he is ready for battle.
The deer is now in 'hard antler' and ready to use his antlers to defend his territory and attack, to secure more female deer ('does', 'hinds', or 'cows', depending on the species of deer) for the upcoming 'rut'/mating season. A few months after the 'rut' the deer will rub his antlers for the last time as they drop or are 'cast' to the ground. The growth cycle now starts again.
There are a number of factors that impact the size, style and colour of the antler. The age of the animal will usually be represented with the overall length, and the size of the Coronet (bottom of antler). As the deer reaches his prime at about 8 years old, he can start to regress with antler quality, though can still have mass.
The diet and nutrients will have a big factor in antler growth. A healthy male deer can have visible growth daily through the growth period.
The Genetics is the biggest variation point. If a male deer doesn't hold good antler growth in his genetics, then no amount of good food will improve him past his genetic capabilities.
His environment will have an effect on the colouration of the antler. As the male deer rubs his antlers on trees and bushes, this leaves a tannin stain from the saps in the trees on his antlers. This staining is usually a dark brown. If he doesn't have trees to rub against because he's in a small, fenced paddock. He will sometimes rub them on the ground, and the soil can stain them. Particularly the red clays. Alternatively, they will present as a blonde uncoloured tone.
For some unknown reason, when the red deer antlers shed/cast, they usually land on the ground with their points facing upwards (a trap for unsuspecting farmers in their vehicles). This orientation will usually allow the top side of the antlers to be exposed to the weather, and the sun and the rain will slowly bleach away the darker tannin colours. The underside on the ground will usually retain the full lustre of the staining.