| Harvey
Lee, The Gap, QLD
Jewellery Cabinet
Silky oak, red cedar, Australian hardwood
230 w x 250 d x 390mm h
Materials
The main carcase of my box is made from
silky oak, which was sourced from Gympie
Queensland. It originates from a tree
which was removed from a friend’s
property to make space for the construction
of their house.
I used red cedar, sourced from a riverside
stump in Iluka NSW, for the inlays in
the front panels and for the sides and
backs of the drawers.
The border of the front panels, the drawer
runners, the box stitch inlays and the
inlay in the legs are from good old Australian
hardwood which was a fence post on my
father’s property in Iluka (NSW).
Method
of construction
Once I milled the timber to the section
sizes I required, I mitred all edges (except
the front of the box) and glued them together
around a jig (with straps). Once the PVA
glue had set, I constructed a jig to hold
the box on a 45 degree angle. The box
was then passed through my tablesaw and
hardwood stitches were inserted.
The drawer fronts were constructed in
one sheet. The inlays were inserted before
the sheet was cut to fit the drawers.
The drawers themselves were routered to
suit the runners. The drawer backs were
set forward on the sides to allow for
the drawers to be opened fully without
being removed.
I placed cork over the oak veneered ply
base to protect and cushion jewellery.
The handles were constructed from the
same timber they sit on. The handles are
placed over the front panel inlays, and
the timber of the inlay was continued
in the handle. The semi-circle handles
were glued into a groove.
The legs of the cupboard are silky oak
45 degree top and bottom with a hardwood
inlay down the centre of the leg.
The whole unit is finished with five coats
of Cabots gloss varnish.
Concept
A simple six drawer box. I find a thin
wide drawer is best for displaying jewellery.
The inlays are supposed to symbolise a
falling leave. The legs set into the box
give it a spider-like appearance. The
total mitred (no nails or screws) main-frame
gives continuity of grain (no endgrain
to interrupt the flow).
Overall its sharp and clean lines give
it a demanding presence.
Photos: Helena Hofmans
|
