Tony Ward, Glenbrook, NSW

Platypus
Australian red cedar (Toona australis)
2100 x 1600 x 3800mm h

Materials
Timber is thought to be Australian red cedar (Toona australis). The offcut was initially sourced from a wood veneer manufacturing company and regarded as salvaged timber.

Method of Construction
The work is a bandsawn/sculpted box.
Following the design work, by drawing on the block, the outer shell was bandsawn, to enable access to (1) the cove situated at the top of the work and (2) the drawers. Once the drawer blanks had been bandsawn the back and outer shell were glued to the cabinet section. The block was then returned to the bandsaw and the pyramid form was completed.
The four drawers were then bandsawn and assembled.
An off cut from the block was carved to make the Platypus now located in the cove.
Carvings of the Platypus’ predators and pup feeding in the den (on the sides) were completed.
The completion of buttresses on the side and drawer fronts carvings meant the structural work was done.
The platypus: A unique mammal, Tom Grant, 1995 (Reprinted 2002) University of New South Wales Press was the principal source used to establish the specifications of the Platypus carvings.
The entire work was hand sanded, commencing with an 80 grit paper, through the various grades to 800 grit, followed by the use of ultra fine sanding sponge 800 ~ 1000 grade. Then 1500 wet n dry paper was used.

Glues
A generic white PVA glue was used to attach all connecting surfaces.

Finish
On completion of the rough sanding, at the 350 grit stage, the work was bathe in a bucket of pure Tung Oil, aka China Wood Oil, together with pure orange oil.
The work was then set aside for approximately two months to allow the oils to harden and bond with the timber. After this time the fine finishing, e.g. sanding with the various grades from 800 grit to 1500 was completed.
At the end of that task Ubeaut’s EEE - Ultra Shine a cut and polish paste wax containing Tripoli powder was used to compliment the fine Australian red cedar.

Concept
This four drawer tower bandsawn box is an art sculptural piece designed to tell a story. The story is intended to widen and augment the existing knowledge of the Platypus and to raise its profile, a beautiful, secretive and shy creature.
The work’s buttresses and drawer face carvings represent the river bank, lined by trees. Burrows amid the roots of native species such as sheoaks, tea-trees and willows is often the home of the platypus.
The burrows are usually located above the water level, often amongst overhanging vegetation and roots and are difficult to find. The burrow entrance is represented by the cove, from which the platypus is seen peeking out with a degree of caution.
The platypus is a small animal about half the size of an average household cat. The nesting chamber is home to the young which spends almost the entire summer feeding on milk.
There are many predators of the platypus some are represented as graffiti carved in the tree trunk by yet another predator – man.

Photos: Tony Ward