Warren Normington, Girrawheen, WA

Jewellery box with mirror
Jarrah, plywood, radiata pine, banksia
218 l x 152 w x 145 h

Materials
Materials for the box were floorboard offcuts (yet to be identified) resawn on bandsaw for main carcase and tray, hand planed and sanded to final size. Jarrah offcuts used for trim, mouldings, and mirror frame. Plywood for tray bottoms. Radiata pine and banksia for inlaid necklace. Banksia for handle. Top trays pine, middle same as main carcase. Interior covered in pink felt. Solid brass hinges and fittings. Lid stop fashioned from brass catches. I used black felt under box and under trays for a finished look as well as noise reduction and feel.

Method of Construction
Main carcase machine dovetailed for strength. Other rabbets hand cut. Joints glued with Titebond, no nails or screws used in my boxes.

Finish
White shellac. First two coats brushed with the grain, all subsequent coats are sprayed, and cut back between coats, using turpentine as a lubricant, start with 320, as surface fills use 600, when a desirable finish is achieved, leave for two days then cut flat with 1200, cutting with grain. Leave several days, residue solvent will soften surface giving lustre, absorbing most rub marks. Next a vigorous rub with a non-silicone furniture wax.
The box was made for my daughter, and needed a deeper bottom tray and a domed top. The hollowed out lid was fitted with a veneered panel. My daughter wanted an oval mirror with a jarrah frame. I cut the frame with a scrollsaw in one piece, and hand shaped with files and sandpaper.

Photos: Debbie Normington