Display Domes

My displays are a major part of my work.  My flies are quite three-dimensional, and therefore require a method of display that goes beyond the traditional shadowbox or fly plate.  I've designed a unique leader system which suspends my finished flies in mid-air so they can be appreciated by people as they would be by the fish, from every possible angle.  Displayed in this way, the fly is free and full of life, even swaying gently with vibrations in the room.  Every aspect - leader, dome, and base - is carefully coordinated to make a truly stunning final presentation.

Leaders:  The leader is made from white horsehair, hand-woven over a fine stainless steel support wire.  The white horsehair, as it would have been during colonial times, is tied directly into the head of the fly.  The steel, virtually invisible beneath the horsehair, not only supports the fly but also brings out the horsehair’s natural translucence and makes the leader glisten as if wet. 

Domes:  The dome in which each fly is presented is handblown from a single piece of glass.  Handblown glass has no seams and therefore boasts optical qualities unparalleled by machine-made glass.  Handblown glass often contains slight imperfections imparted during the glassblowing process; these imperfections are a mark of quality and contribute to the rich character of the glass.

Bases

My bases are custom made for me by Booker Brooks, President of the State College Woodturners' Guild.  Booker turns and finishes each base by hand from the finest exotic hardwoods in the world.  He is a gifted turner and enjoys making each base different from the last.  He is so talented that I hesitate to give him instructions as to how I want my bases constructed, instead preferring to give him a general idea and then let him apply his own artistry and skill to the base.  We've begun our partnership with a few simple bases, but he and I are both eager to try new and exciting things.  I can only show a few of his bases and woods below, but many, many other styles and woods may be used.  When ordering a fly, we can discuss the many available base options which would help make your piece truly unique.  Included in the list price for each fly is a standard-style base with handblown glass dome.  Substitutions of more exotic woods or styles are priced accordingly.  Please understand that because Booker personally selects each piece of wood he uses, his inventory is ever-changing.  Hence, not all the woods pictured below are always available, and some woods other than those shown below may be available.