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Alan Walker,
Murrumbateman, NSW
Martini Glass
Box and Transport Box
Tasmanian celery top pine, black ancient
redgum, Tasmanian oak
270 x 215mm d
The Octagonal
Martini Glass Box protects and displays
a one-off martini glass worth at least
$25,000. The martini glass will be exhibited
around the world at promotion and fund
raising events over the next year, hence
the need for a transport box.
The martini glass was designed and made
by Peter Crisp of Yass, NSW, for the Bombay
Sapphire Gin Company. There are 226 light
blue Ceylonese cut sapphires on the martini
glass. Funds raised through a silent auction
for the martini glass will be used for
cancer research.
My primary brief was the design and making
of a box to complement and protect the
martini glass . A secondary brief was
to make a box to protect the primary box
in transit.
I decided on an octagonal shape for the
primary box to reflect the circularity
of the martini glass. Light coloured,
plain, Tasmanian celery top pine was chosen
to ensure that the martini glass was the
focus of attention whether it was displayed
within the Octagonal Box or on top of
the Octagonal Box. Black ancient redgum
was chosen for detailing.
To control movement from moisture content
variations I cut my own celery top pine
veneers and bonded them to MDF for the
side panels and octagonal segments. I
used epoxy resin to bond this veneer and
to join the side panels and end segments.
The removable base inside the Octagonal
Box has a recessed ancient redgum octagon
at its centre to locate the base of the
martini glass. This recessed octagon together
with a blue velvet cushion hold the martini
glass when it is in transit. The recess
in the ancient redgum centre octagon is
lined with navy blue suede.
The removable base fits into the top of
the Octagonal Box for displaying the martini
glass. The Octagonal Box then becomes
a display plinth for the martini glass.
The underside of the Octagonal Box and
the removable plinth are covered with
felt.
The Octagonal Box has a wax over shellac
finish.
I made the Transport Box from Tasmanian
oak. The Octagonal Box is protected in
transit by bands of felt fitted to the
internal faces of the Transport Box, and
is held in place by a suede covered foam
pad in the lid.
Photos: Alan Walker
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