Graham Sands

Ark of Padauk
Padauk, ebony, rare earth magnets, acrylic
190 x 190 x 240mm

Four secret “tomb-like” chambers can only be opened one at a time with the special cylindrical key which is charged with magical powers at the geometric centre of a pyramid. Within these chambers like mummies in sarcophagi lies a collection of writing instruments, appropriate as the Egyptians were pioneers of writing using sharpened calamus reeds soaked with soot to write hieroglyphs on papyrus.
The pyramid has the same proportions as that of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The ratio of the length of the slope to the distance from the centre at the base is “Phi”, _, the Golden Mean, 1:1:618. I have used this proportion for the sides of the Padauk Ark as well and both sizes of finger joints.
A transparent cylinder also the golden proportions supports the magic “key” at one third the height of the pyramid. This is the same respective position as that of the King’s Chamber in Cheops Pyramid at Giza. It is where the energy of the pyramid is greatest, the word pyramid in Latin means fire-in-the-middle. Like the pyramids at Giza this object should be aligned with the four points of the compass.
This object serves as a set of miniature drawers. The pyramid is made from ‘golden’ Huon pine in contrast to the padauk. It is a scaled-down version of a pyramid used for meditation, where the person’s head is at the geometric centre. Securing the pyramid above the Padauk Ark are four turned ebony feet containing neodynium magnets which are attracted to similar magnets set below the top surface of the Ark at the corners. The pyramid can simply be lifted away leaving no trace of fixing points and when returned magically finds its home position.
The word ark means: place, chest, box or coffer offering protection, here it comprises 8mm thick French polished padauk top, bottom and sides finger jointed together with the grain running continuously across the joints all around. The strength of finger joints enables the wall thickness to be quite thin maximising the usable internal volume. The rows of fingerjoints are similar to that of decorative perimeters around hieroglyphics. The ark sits on four solid ebony cylinders.
To create a precious environment the floors of the chambers/drawers are polished padauk and the sides are ebony providing another contrast to the padauk. The ebony also provides an ideal surface to slide on ebony guides set into the sides of the ark. The drawer fronts are cut consecutively from the same piece of padauk so the grain matches from one to the next. Each drawer is pulled closed by small neodynium magnets set into the rear sides of the drawers and enclosure. Another set stop the drawer at the open position.
A magnet concealed below the centre of the top of the enclosure secures a clear acrylic cylinder which supports the “key”. This ebony key which contains a neodynium magnet can be removed from the pyramid and placed near the front of a drawer to which it is held by a magnet concealed in the drawer front. The attraction of these two magnets is sufficient to overpower the magnets holding the drawer closed and the contents can be “discovered”!
African padauk finished with eight coats of Ubeaut White Shellac and Ubeaut Traditional Wax. Huon pine supplied by Missan Timbers WA, finished with Ubeaut Traditional Wax. Indian and African ebony supplied by Scott Wise Luthier and Trend Timbers, drawer sides unfinished, feet and key finished with Ubeaut Traditional Wax. Clear acrylic rod from my stocks. 40 neodynium magnets supplied by Maglab NSW. Glues: Garrett Wade GF202, Titebond III, Selleys SuperGlue and Selleys Quick Grip

Photos: Robert Frith, Graham Sands