Primitive DIY Whale Tail Candle Sconce

I love the decorative detail of the 'Whale Tail' that you see in a lot of primitive pieces. I have read that it is a symbol for 'Good Luck'. I decided to incorporate it into this 'Candle Sconce' that I built with the help of my DH.

I first drew a pattern on a 1 x 10 board. We then cut the 5 simple pieces for this project. As you can see, the bottom piece was cut to length after this photo.

All the pieces were screwed together and the edges were then sanded to remove the sharpness and give the wood a nice 'worn' feel.

This is a view from the back. The screw holes were countersunk and then filled with glue and wooden dowels, which were then sanded down to a nice smooth finish. I think that this really makes a difference in the finish of the piece.

I then gave the piece a coat of 'Sage Green' paint followed by a coat of 'Black'. After drying overnight, I sanded the edges and some other areas to show 'wear'. I then gave it a quick coat of 'Minwax Dark Walnut' Stain and wiped the piece down.

And this is the finished 'Whale Tail Candle Sconce', as it looks now hanging in my home. Perhaps it will bring us some 'Good Luck'.

Until next time ~ Suzanne.