Yet another from the other place - I'm trying to get everything onto Craftisian .....
This was a very different style of box for me made in 2018. It was inspired by the work of Japanese artist Miyoshi Kagari and was the start of my 'Japanese period'.
It has a slightly curved lift-off Japanese style lid, rather than one that is hinged as is the usual western tradition. The night scene on the front is of Western Australia's capital city - Perth - just 45km from where I live. It's a view looking from south Perth across the Swan river to the north foreshore.
This is a recent picture taken July 2024 from a friends 29th floor apartment. Its after few more high rise buildings had been added.
The top of the box has a night sky with the moon, and the constellations of the Southern cross and Orion's Belt.
This is mirrored on the inside of the lid by a smaller version.
The box lid is made from veneered marine plywood with an abstract block parquetry design on the sides and back, enhanced with bandings in the same woods. The woods used are Walnut, Jarrah, Kiri, Cherry, Beech and stained black.
The marquetry night scenes on the front and inside are made from different coloured solid and laminated shell sheets, together with shell dots.
The box contains a set of lift off solid wood trays in a range of timbers - banksia, walnut and cherry with some more of my home made banding from the outside. The bottom tray is fixed to a tray style base. In later boxes of this style I would have the tray as a separate piece.
The whole lid is held in place with 'Japanese' style hasps, bolts and/or locks.
i havn't commented on all the latest stuff youve posted MB but im overwhelmed by the quality of every box youve done sir. your work is beyond compare. glad to see you finalizing the move to a place where it's valued at the highest level ! keep it coming !
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Thanks Pottz - appreciate your comments. As an ex-woodwork teacher I had a head start, but it was only when I retired that I had the time to be really creative. Having made many bits of furniture for our various houses, I went down the box route when we came to Western Australia. Boxes take less time to make, us less wood, take up less space, and the options are endless, with inspiration from antiques, modern, and Japanese - plus I now sell them so I don't clutter up the house. The proceeds help to keep me in top shelf vino!!
