Mark Hewitt, Brunswick, VIC

Past
Silky oak, Tasmanian oak
1100 x 248 x 98mm

Materials
It’s silky oak for the main box and frame for the glass which I picked up on a work trip to Queensland. I was driving through a small town just north of the Qld/NSW border and I saw all these wood slabs up against the side of a building but I was in a hurry to get to Brisbane so I made sure I stopped by on my return trip. I did not have much room in the vehicle I was driving but I stuffed as much as I could in the back! The rear panel is Tasmanian oak from Bunnings but if you hunt through their racks for long enough you will come upon a nice figured board like this one.

Method of Construction
The main carcase has been dovetailed by hand but with the help of an Angle-Mag, rebated into the rear is a frame and panel with simple stub tenon joinery. The frame for the glass has mortise and tenons cut on the router table with a rebate cut out for the glass which is held in with a small Tasmanian oak bead. All this is held together with Titebond glue.

Finish
It has two coats of Min Wax wipe on polyurethane. This brings out the wonderful color and grain but does not leave it looking too much like plastic plus it is very hardy. The only part without finish is the two sword 'cradles' as I did not want it to transfer.

Concept
My maternal grandfather bought this sword back from WW2 and he passed quite a few years ago. Last December my remaining grandfather died. So as a tribute to both my grandfathers who have had a lot to do with the person I am today and who both served in WW2 in the pacific region I built this display case to hold this sword. I called it Past as they have both now pasted on, it is in the past but it is a past I will remember when I look at this sword.

Photos: Mark Hewitt