Written by: Sarah Ericson
Design trends in the Rocky Mountain West continue to modernize with each passing year. Despite emerging styles and passing fads, some things are never out of vogue. And it is the rare artisan who can deliver enduring pieces that are both lasting in durability and in character. The Peak Antler Company has been creating functional art for over two decades. Every one of their custom chandeliers, lamps, and furniture pieces is handmade and truly one-of-a-kind. Based in central Colorado since 2003, the company’s roots are firmly planted, while its reach is worldwide.
In the Rockies, antlers take shape as hand-built lighting, furniture, and functional art
“EACH ITEM IS BUILT COMPLETELY BY HAND. MULTIPLE ARTISANS HANDLE THE PRODUCT ACROSS ASSEMBLY, WIRING, FINISHING, AND QUALITY INSPECTION TO ENSURE CONSISTENCY AND INTEGRITY.”
ONE-OF-A-KIND EVERY TIME
Jeff Musgrave, owner and principal artist of The Peak Antler Company, has been handcrafting functional art with antlers for over 30 years. What began as a solo hobby while working as a motorcycle mechanic has grown into a full-time operation with a team of ten. With an abundance of experience behind him, Jeff speaks with confidence in his craft and lasting demand for his products in residential and resort design. “We’ve grown a lot over the years, but the work is the same as it was when I started,” he remembers. “It used to just be me alone in my garage, and now we have six dedicated shop employees, an office manager, my wife, Jen, and my daughter, Alexis.”
The larger team allows for a more collaborative approach to design, production, and logistics management, and it makes it possible for The Peak Antler Company to complete over 200 projects a year. “We ship coast to coast in the U.S. and almost everywhere around the world,” he says. The Peak Antler Company fulfills custom orders, exports to international destinations, and has even completed large-scale installations on-site.
As much as things have remained the same, no two projects are alike. Their work spans chandeliers, lighting fixtures, furniture, and functional art, yet nothing comes from a catalog. Every piece begins with the client’s space and is built from there. The material itself guarantees it. “We begin every design by evaluating and selecting the right antler for the right piece,” says Jeff. The initial design consultation also takes into account the specifications for the space’s size, scale, and proportions. When completed, these pieces don’t just occupy space; they help to define it.
When he first got started, Jeff took each project from start to finish by himself. Now, his small team of expertly trained craftspeople does most of the building while he handles client relations, design, and sales. “Each item is built completely by hand,” he says. “Multiple artisans handle the product across assembly, wiring, finishing, and quality inspection to ensure consistency and integrity.”
“PEOPLE COME TO US ALL THE TIME AND ASK US TO MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE PILE OF ANTLERS THAT’S BEEN IN THE FAMILY GARAGE FOR GENERATIONS. IT’S A GREAT WAY TO HONOR THEIR LOVED ONES WHO’VE PASSED ON OR TO PAY HOMAGE TO AN ENDURING FAMILY TRADITION.”
BRIDGING WILDERNESS AND CIVILIZATION
The Peak Antler Company’s clientele is drawn to a similar aesthetic, one where the lines between indoor and outdoor spaces are blurred. The pieces—whether chandeliers, lighting fixtures, art installations, or furniture—lend a powerful feeling to a home. Antlers, by virtue of their natural shedding and regrowth cycles, symbolize renewal and strength. Jeff’s creative spirit feels right at home in this medium, and he has become an expert in the field.
People who select this medium, both artists and collectors alike, all have a common interest in ensuring healthy natural habitats and animal populations. Conservation ethics and a strong spirit of outdoor adventure are through lines for people in this space. Certainly, this describes Joel Vasek, The Peak Antler Company’s lead finishing specialist and resident shed hunter. Joel and Jeff source most of their materials from local shed hunters. They purchase the rest from shed dealers when local sources can’t satisfy their needs. They work primarily with North American species, including mule deer, whitetail deer, elk, and moose, and they also work with select European fallow and red deer as well as Asian axis deer.
Aside from individual hunters and dealers, there is a third material source that makes a project extra special. “People come to us all the time and ask us to make something out of the pile of antlers that’s been in the family garage for generations,” says Jeff. “It’s a great way to honor their loved ones who’ve passed on or to pay homage to an enduring family tradition.” Creating functional pieces gives these families a meaningful place to gather and pay tribute, whether they’re lounging on an impressive furniture set, seated under a suspended chandelier, or in the presence of a small but significant item.
AT HOME IN JACKSON
The Musgraves and The Peak Antler Company are based in Woodland Park, CO, but they are no strangers to Jackson. Jeff has attended several Western Design Conferences over the years and even won a prestigious award in 2012. He has recently secured placement in Bella Fine Goods, with a downtown location that gives Jackson residents and visitors a fresh introduction to premier antler art.
“WHEN I MEET NEW PEOPLE, NO MATTER WHERE I AM IN THE WORLD, THEY FIND OUT WHAT I DO AND ASK, ‘HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO JACKSON HOLE?’ THE HERITAGE HERE IS STRONG, AND I’M PLEASED TO BE WELCOMED INTO THIS LOVELY COMMUNITY.”
In Jackson, there is a rich history and an emotional connection to antler art. “When I meet new people, no matter where I am in the world,” Jeff says, “they find out what I do and ask, ‘Have you ever been to Jackson Hole?’ The heritage here is strong, and I’m pleased to be welcomed into this lovely community.” The proximity to the National Elk Refuge, the annual Boy Scouts auction, and the iconic Town Square arches make antlers larger than life. Here, antlers are not simply material; they’re not even just art; they are symbolic to many and meaningful to all.
The Peak Antler Company feels right at home here in Jackson. Their vast offerings are on display for a ripe audience who know the meaning and the power of these functional pieces. From an intricate yet understated guitar stand to a 225-square-foot spiral staircase railing, the range of what antlers can become is broader than most people expect. And if you haven’t seen anything you like yet, you’re in luck. Because when asked what his favorite piece is, Jeff answers confidently: “The next one.”
whj PROFILE
