A woman who makes bespoke soap asked me to make some display/gift boxes as a trial run for her Shop. She wanted five units, simple, black. I suggested a lift-lid so the top can be removed and the base placed inside it, so as to be a soap-dish or sorts. She liked that idea. There was a deadline so she could have these in her shop for Christmas sales. I made it by one day. Yay.
Well, anyone who knows me, knows I dont do Simple. I added some Jazz with subtle tapered curves in a wrap-around effect, and sprinkling of Gold flakes into the wet lacquer, more or less randomly; and broke all the sharp edges. These will fit the standard bar of Ivory soap, with a hair of wiggle room. She will add a sticker with the company logo on the tops, which is the Eye of Horus inside a pyramid with rays in an arc emanating from the pyramid.
For those who dont know what I have been up to lately, this is not just painted wood with some poly on it. This is a treasured Japanese technique of lacquering. The finish you see has many stages, but to keep the explanation simple, lets just say there are two sealer coats of Marine varnish (thinned W/MS), 7 coats of Varnish tinted with black iron oxide powder (thinned), and two very thin final coats of varnish ; and polishing/leveling with Japanese crystal water stones at different stages. The last step is to buff with a wax compound I make myself ( which I have to do, right Now!).
FYI: the first several coats of tinted lacquer I dont filter, I have found that it is good to have some "beef" at this stage. The later coats are filtered with Japanese Washi paper, like this:
What makes me happy aout this project? It is done. And paid for! What challenges did I face? A deadline What did I learn? Nothing, really. Anything else?
Those are gorgeous boxes, A finishing process that I need to put on my list of learning how to do. The small, detailed boxes need to have a wonderful finish to match, and for display. Well Done.
The black is stunning, photos sucked all the light out of my room 😀
Must be some fancy soap cuz those boxes are fancy on their own. Buy a box, get a free bar of soap! I just hope they don't think they are soap dishes, it'd bring a tear to my eye.
Fine as always Brian and I can't end this without mentioning your wax. Do you "wax on, wax off"> (too soon, I know)
A general heart-felt thank you to everyone who commented - thank you!!!
For anyone interested in this Japanese craft, I have a huge data-base, most of it gifted to me by Madburg (Martin, who is well-known on that other site), which I would be happy to pass on. That would have to be by email, as the files are really big.
Splint - wax on, wait 10 minutes, wax off. It does take some elbow.
Earl - the gold-leaf is in the soap. Eventually, you will see gold-leaf on some projects.
Yeah, Mike, the client is actually stumped as to how much she can charge for the final package. She is putting crystals and semi-precious stones, flowers, other smelly stuff in the cakes as well. But this shop is in Denmark, people are richer up there.
Ken - check out Urushi lacquering, or Urushi Maki Lacquering. Youtube can get you the basics. There are alot of specialty tools and materials to acquire, if one aims to be a purist.
Why do rich kids have all the great toys? Because they ask.
If you dont ask, you dont get.
Like this: This is a "healing" crystal, inside a "purifying" soap, scented with wild mountain flowers, with a "balancing" charge of pure gold leaf, packaged in a handmade box that is finished with an ancient Japanese technique.
Some folks are willing to pay for an Idea, rather than the thing itself. This is, essentially, why people buy Art.
Ron, thank you. But, I havent posted any work Here. You must have me confused with that other guy from that other place.
Sorry about that. The latest project I had in mind was a box called Precession. I thought I had seen that here, but it was at LJ. Am I right in thinking that’s your box? Or are there two different guys named Brian who build exquisite boxes finished with many coats of lacquer?
