| Peter
Makula, Berry, NSW
Cedar and Kauri
Deco Box
Australian cedar, kauri pine
367 w x 297 d x 117mm h
Concept
To make a richly textured jewellery box,
with a simple underlying structure, having
Art Deco references.
Method
of Construction
The piece was constructed from Australian
cedar (obtained about 25 years ago) and
kauri pine reclaimed from a Victorian
era house demolition. A combination of
solid timber, veneer, and inlay was used,
with 6mm marine ply used as a sub–base
for the veneer.
The lid top was made by milling a length
of cedar to approx 58mm x 46mm, which
was then crosscut at an angle into regular
sized sections and then re-assembled with
1.6mm thick kauri inserts. The re-assembled
block was dimensioned again and band-sawn
into six lengths of veneer. After sanding,
the veneer strips were opened out in a
book-matched fashion and glued to the
ply sub-base. Care was taken to keep the
cut block components and veneer strips
in order. The inside of the lid was done
in the same way. The lift out tray bases
and center of the base panel is kauri
veneered onto ply.
The lift out trays were mitred and slip-tongued
on the corners (these have been covered
by the inlaid cedar darts). The vertical
cedar sections on the lid corners reflect
the profile of the lid sides and also
incorporate slip-tongues. The base frame
was also mitred and joined with slip-tongues
prior to inlaying with kauri darts. The
diagonal divisions in the trays are unglued
cross-halving joints, relying on a press
fit into the trays. I fabricated the locating
bars from bronze braising rods. These
vary in length so that the trays relocate
in their matching grooves and ensure that
the timber grain maintains its match when
the trays are repositioned.
All components were sanded to 1200#. Diluted
shellac was used as a sanding sealer and
was then cut back with Tripoli paste.
Organol buffing oil was then applied,
and after curing was again cut back with
the Tripoli paste.
Glue used was Titebond III. Hinges and
stays are Brusso manufacture.
Photos: Peter Makula
|
