Reader's Gallery

Carved-Front Box with Wooden Hinged Lid

comments (0) November 23rd, 2010 in Reader's Gallery

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1^st period-style box made using hand tools only, following the construction details and methods of early Dedham, MA joiner John Thurston. For example, the pins that hold the hinges are not inserted dowels but shaped extensions of the oak back board itself. Front is carved with foliated S-scrolls and leaves.

I wanted the surface to have some aged color without using a stain or dye, so I used old white oak (sides, front, back, and hinges) and old hard yellow pine (top and bottom) from a dismantled house and applied a light coat of wax to get a patina. (18^th century wood to make a 17^th century box!) The hand-wrought iron nails are salvaged from an antique house, as well.

Design or Plan used: My Own Design - My adaptation; inspired by a Thurston box (1660-1685) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art

posted in: Reader's Gallery, period interpretation, box, carving, repurposed wood: white oak, hard yellow pine

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