Shane Henry, Leika - Games Box (ART & OBJECTS 2025)

Photos:

Shane Henry

Video tour

https://youtu.be/QeFZB5_el4Q

Country

Australia

I set out with the goal of creating a chessboard, and from that initial idea, the Leika Games Box evolved into something more. The timbers used in the construction are 100% recycled and locally reclaimed, reflecting my commitment to sustainability. The box itself is made from continuous grain Blackbutt, mitred and reinforced with Red Gum splines. The lid is crafted from a combination of featured Spotted Gum, Blackbutt, and Douglas Fir. My intention was to make the lid not only a functional top but also a piece of art for when the box is not in use. To achieve this, I shaped and inset Spotted Gum and Blackbutt intarsia into the top in organic, flowing shapes, and added Douglas Fir inlays to enhance the design. To allow easy access to the chessboard, I designed a cammed inner rail system on both sides of the box. This connects to a hand-shaped Spotted Gum handle, and when the handle is turned, the lid lifts, giving players access to the game inside. The chessboard itself is made from a continuous grain of Spotted Gum and Blackbutt, and once again, it is decorated with Douglas Fir inlays to tie everything together. The base features a wavy inlay of Tallowood and Blackbutt, continuing the organic theme throughout the piece. I turned both sets of chess pieces on the lathe from Red Gum and Tallowood, hand-shaping the Knights to give them a more distinctive character. For a bit of fun and added creativity, I also made checkers pieces from recycled skateboard decks, utilizing the vibrant colors of the dyed and laminated maple plywood. To store the pieces, I created two mitred boxes from a darker Spotted Gum, each featuring inner compartments with cross-halving made from Camphor Laurel. Victorian Ash beads hold the Pawns, while Blackbutt rails are used to store the checkers. The interior base is lined with black felt to keep everything securely in place. Finally, the entire box and its components were hand-polished with Scandinavian Oil and Cabinet Makers Wax to enhance the natural beauty of the timber and ensure a smooth, durable finish.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.