Lorraine Le Plastrier, Castlemaine, Victoria

Watchful Echidna
Desk Accessory with Netsuke Sculpture

Concept
This is a piece of studio furniture for the work or home office. It is unique not only in the individual beauty of the wood but each unit has its own individual netsuke-style sculpture.
A netsuke is an individual miniature sculpture originally part of Japanese traditional dress. The traditional double-ended hole (himetoshi) through which a silk cord is threaded can be seen on the back of this piece. The netsuke must be small enough to be held in the hand, is usually figurative and meticulously carved. The size of the work gives the holder an intimacy with the work.
By combining it with the blackheart sassafras desk accessory I am making the work accessible for handling, available to the tactile senses, possibly when thoughtful decisions are to be made.
The modeling of the sculpture contrasts and complements the smooth functional lines of the desk set. The combination of machined techniques and the use of hand tools is a demanding, enjoyable and creative experience for myself.
My choice of subject for the sculptures reflects my personal interest in the environment and the narrative of an event or story. This Watchful Echidna, sculpted in 2007 from European boxwood with inlay of buffalo horn, measures 28mm high. The piece was inspired by echidnas in Castlemaine, Victoria and the challenge of learning about these mysterious and unique little mammals.

Materials
European boxwood (Buxus sempervirens)
Source: Neil Ellis, Geelong
Blackheart sassafras (Atherosperma moschatum)
Source: James Anderson, Bendigo
Buffalo horn
Source: op-shops

Design
Research is the first step in exploring any of my work. Drawings and model making are helpful in the planning, scale of work and especially the 3D composition of the piece.

Sawing and shaping the block
The netsuke block is sawn to remove excess leaving a rough block to test my model against. Further roughing out is done with a motor tool, stopping to make drawn marks for clearer guidance.

Detailing and inlay
The detailing is done with hand tools which I keep ultra-sharp for clean cutting. Any detailing that requires a special shape I usually make the tool to suit the design. Inlaying of eyes requires concentration and no interruptions. The position is marked with pencil, socket holes drilled carefully and the inlay material tapered to a tight fit. Inlay material is then glued in place with araldite. When dry the eye is shaped and polished.

Staining
The Echidna is stained with a fabric dye on damp wood to add contrast and definition to the form. High spots are then rubbed back.

Finishing
Traditional wax or neutral shoe polish buffed, both give a good finish.

The Desk Accessory
Mock-ups were made with an inexpensive wood until I was satisfied with the design. Blackheart sassafras was my choice of wood because its random patterns added to the very earthy look for the Watchful Echidna The dark colours and random lines are a striking contrast with the European box. The wood was thicknessed, planed and rough sanded. Pen rests were routed and the paper-clip/sculpture seat drilled with a Forstner bit and the base hand carved.
The work was sanded by machine grading up to 320 grit and the final sanding to 3200 by hand.
Finish is two coats of U-Beaut Traditional Wax Finish which has potential for a soft, subtle and protective finish.
Signatures on all pieces are embossed fine silver.

Photos: Lorraine Le Plastrier