Rustic Handcrafted Log Step Ladder Appraisal

Rustic Handcrafted Log Step Ladder

This item is a large, handcrafted rustic ladder constructed from stripped logs. The piece features two thick vertical support beams and approximately nine horizontal rungs. The construction utilizes mortise and tenon joinery, with the rungs tenoned through the main side rails and secured, creating a sturdy, primitive aesthetic. The wood appears to be a coniferous species like pine or cedar, displaying a natural greyish-brown weathered patina on the outer bark surfaces, while freshly debarked or cut areas show lighter cream-colored under-wood. The rungs are irregularly shaped, maintaining the natural curvature of the branches, which adds to its folk-art or cabin-style appeal. Notable features include the pointed, sharpened tips at the bottom and top of the vertical rails. In terms of condition, the wood shows significant weathering, surface cracking (checking), and some dirt accumulation consistent with storage in a garage or shed. There is no visible evidence of modern varnish or chemical finishing, suggesting a raw, 20th-century functional or decorative piece intended for lodge-style interiors or garden use. The craftsmanship is utilitarian but deliberate, emphasizing organic forms over precise symmetry.