| Project by smartBoxmaker | posted 07-30-2011 06:11 PM | 5022 views | 39 times favorited | 31 comments |  |
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This is a large case, 20” x 14” x 14” intended for cufflinks. The main body of the box is made from oak and birch ply – it is veneered with spectacular American sweet gum burr featuring a four way bookmatch using the midway point of the front edge of the lid as the centre. French polished.
The lid and front are decorated with a wide figured maple line. The second image shows the way the line on the lid meets the simpler black and white lines at the sides and back and the boxwood that protects all the edges.
This case has five spring loaded drawers in oak. These are opened by lifting small turned ebony finials situated along the back edge of the interior.. I have done many other cufflink boxes, but none the size of this or for as many pairs. Each of the five drawers is divided into 48 compartments thus catering for … 240 pairs in all. And then there’s plenty more space in the main box compartment above …
This was a difficult veneer to work with, but the gorgeous colour [similar to burr oak] and figure made it well worth the effort. You can see the wonderful shape created by bookmatching the spalted figuring just around the figured maple escutcheon. The bookmatch here, and on the lid, is a ‘perfect’ bookmatch. That means that they were each formed from two consecutive leaves from the same bundle, knife cut so no material has been removed between, and opened up. You can only do this with a pair of leaves, there is no such thing as a perfect four way book match as the figure will always have shifted.
-- Andrew Crawford, Shropshire, UK. https://www.smartBoxmaker.com
31 comments so far
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 4042 days
#1 posted 07-30-2011 06:38 PM
Absolutely beautiful piece. Precise, exacting workmanship. Perfect placing of the veneer (key escutcheon particularly well placed). You have an exceptional attention to detail and patience to match. The figure in that burr is wonderful and you’ve definitely done it justice, Andrew.
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
Ken90712
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#2 posted 07-30-2011 06:43 PM
Some truly amazing work you have accomplished on this! It is beautiful. Love everything about this. But who has 240 cuff links ? LOL Great job.
-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 4042 days
#3 posted 07-30-2011 06:45 PM
Ken. The person who can afford the true price of this box!
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
bigike
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4057 posts in 4294 days
#4 posted 07-30-2011 06:50 PM
very nice work, is this one of the boxes from the AC book?
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://[email protected]
blackcherry
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3345 posts in 4829 days
#5 posted 07-30-2011 06:52 PM
OH MY! Where dose one begin, it off the chart beautiful and mesmerizing. I could stare at this for quit some time exceptional work….BRAVO on this box…Blkcherry
Tim Kindrick
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369 posts in 3560 days
#6 posted 07-30-2011 06:58 PM
Stunning Masterpiece!!! It doesn’t get any better than this!!!!!
-- I have metal in my neck but wood in my blood!!
Jersey
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#7 posted 07-30-2011 07:12 PM
Absolutely stunning. Such fine attention to detail.
Well done
cajunpen
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#8 posted 07-30-2011 07:22 PM
Well I was going to say stunning – as that is the first thing that popped into my mind when I saw your “work of art”. Thanks for sharing this piece of art with us.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
RogerBean
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#9 posted 07-30-2011 08:11 PM
Andrew,
To paraphrase Winston C.: “Me, hard to please? Never! I’m always satisfied with the very best.” I think he would have been quite happy with this. Delighted to see you here.
Roger
-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)
Dennisgrosen
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10880 posts in 4121 days
#10 posted 07-30-2011 08:27 PM
waaauuuuooow nice peice he made there :-)
was the first sound and words that poped out of both me and my doughters mouth
when we saw this together ….. and I don´t think we will change it …..enoff said … :-)
take care
Silke and Dennis
itsmic
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1419 posts in 4124 days
#11 posted 07-30-2011 08:59 PM
GORGEOUS! , masterfully done with exceptional attention to detail and style, This veneer is just “knock out” Gorgeous, Your skill and artistic flair have made this a real eye catcher, and an inspiration, thanks for sharing
-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing
CharlieM1958
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16292 posts in 5224 days
#12 posted 07-30-2011 09:10 PM
Oh my…. I’m speechless.
As soon as I saw the photo, I thought it had to be one of RogerBean’s boxes. Now I’m thinking we need to find a way for the two of you to have some sort of “box-off”. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
jbschutz
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610 posts in 3697 days
#13 posted 07-30-2011 10:36 PM
Mr. Crawford. The box is magnificent! I marvel at the complexity and the beautiful craftsmanship. I have a couple of your books, and Roger B. has made me a disciple of you and your work. Thank you for sharing this masterwork.
John Schutz
-- jbschutz www.johnschutz.com
Napoleon
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#14 posted 07-30-2011 10:45 PM
Awesome work!
-- Boatbuilder&blacksmith
shipwright
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#15 posted 07-30-2011 11:57 PM
Wonderful work Andrew.
That is a very special bit of veneer. It’s good to see that it made it’s way to a man who could do it the real justice it deserves.
-- Paul M ..............the early bird may get the worm but it’s the second mouse that gets the cheese! http://thecanadianschooloffrenchmarquetry.com/
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