Iain Green, Carindale, QLD

Glasses Case
Tasmanian myrtle burl, rock maple
155 x 55 x 43mm

Concept:
I have long been fascinated by the opportunities around beautiful veneers that are bent into curves to achieve strength, stability and beautiful lines. I have also felt that a glasses case represents one of the most commonly used boxes yet is seldom made from timber. This is my second design and it attempts to achieve an attractive and functional shape while simplifying the construction.

Method of Construction:
I used 0.65mm Tasmanian myrtle burl veneer and have found a way of softening the wood and then bending it over a mould. When they were dry, I glued three layers on the mould using a cross-linked PVA glue. I used a rock maple lip, lid and hand cut hinge and myrtle ends, all glued onto the shell with epoxy. The end result is very light and amazingly strong and rigid.
From my prototype design, I realised that it is important to line the case to stop the glasses from rattling in the case. I cut a lining from a traditional Japanese obi (the waist band from a Kimono). The one I chose has an interesting geometric design and is a quite thick polyester material which means that a hot knife was able to seal the edges. I constructed the box with internal lips that have been able to capture the edges of this lining.
The finish is urushi (Japanese lacquer) to seal the surface and wax to finish it. Glasses come in arrange of sizes. I have accommodated this by using a standard mould profile (thanks to Fibonacci) and varying the height and length of the shell. Rare earth magnets have proved an effective way of holding the lid closed.

Photos: Iain Green