Wayne Petrie, Orange, NSW

Jarrah Gentleman’s Box
Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata), pig's hide
250 x 160 x 47mm

At the time of making, jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) was the focus of my attention. I was deeply interested in its qualities and the way it finished.
The box was an exploratory project looking at a range of construction techniques, splined mitre joints, floating panels (the base) and frame and panel (the lid) before taking the principles into larger projects.
With the sides cut and partially finished they were taped together at the corners ready for glue up. The rebated edge of the base was fitted to one side with the others then being sprung around it. Following the glue up, the splines were fitted to reinforce the mitre joints. A similar process was undertaken in the glue up of the top.
Lining sides were then fitted to the interior of the box. These elements provide support to the top when in its closed position and were also used to capture the padded base lining of pigs hide. The top was fitted to the sides and hinged with two sterling silver pins.
A profiled handle to allow the top to be opened was fitted to the frame with the negative of the form being sculptured into the front side of the box thereby providing a flush smooth profile to the finished box form.
The box was sanded down to 400 grit and burnished with 0000 steel wool before being finished with Feast Watson fine buffing oil and Liberon paste wax.

Glue
PVA

Finishing
Feast Watson fine buffing oil. Liberon Black Bison paste wax.

Photos: David Sandison