Cherry Spice Chest

[Robert Maloney]

I really enjoy building Spice Chests. A lot of work in a small box. For me the challenge of doing something different or new is what inspires me. When I build these I try to do something different with each one. The first one had an arched top, the second had a double tombstone door. The last one was a Bonnet Top Chest. At the time I thought that was my hardest build to date, but No I had to build something different. A friend at work sent me a picture of a curved front vanity and said "Why don't you build this?" So why not do a curved front Spice Chest? Can't be that hard to build. Boy was I wrong. I think I spent more time making jigs and fences, for what seemed like every piece, than I actually did woodworking. I gained a healthy respect for anyone that does curved work. For me, this was a challenge. One that was well worth it in the end. Most of the Cherry in this piece was from stock that I already had. The door panel was a crotch slab that I got from Bob Kloes. I resawed it into 1/16" veneers and bent in on a form in the vacuum press. I was going to make the Birdseye Maple drawer fronts from solid stock, but chose to veneer them. I couldn't justify wasting that much beautiful material to make the fronts. The curved drawer joinery wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. On the full size drawers I was able to cut the joinery on my dovetail jig while the stock was still square. The half drawers I had to handcut the dovetails on the long side of the drawers. I cheated though. I cut the sides on my jig and hand cut the pins on the drawer fronts. This was my first real attempt at a hand cut halfblind dovetail. All said and done this was a very educational build for me, and I am pleased with the outcome.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Beautiful box and fantastic craftsmanship. What did you use for a finish?

[Chet R Parks]

Robert, great piece of work especially the drawer fronts. What are the overall dimensions (width, height, depth)

[Andrew Hughes]

That's a nice piece, have you made a spice chest on a stand with long curved tapered legs?
I also find curved work very challenging and rewarding
The birds eye maple is spectacular
Thanks for sharing

[Jon Grider]

Beautiful workmanship and materials.

[Christian Hawkshaw]

Very nice piece....I agree with everyone's comments on the quality and beauty of this piece.

[Bill Carey]

wonderful piece Robert. Beautiful detail work. I'm also curious what finish you used.

[Lee Schierer]

Really nice work. The selection of materials is great.

[Jim Becker]

That is totally beautiful!!!

[Prashun Patel]

That's elegant. I can feel how complex and challenging this must have been. Really wonderful.

Apart from the technical challenges, I admire your aesthetic choices on the door and drawer fronts.

[Malcolm McLeod]

Craftsmanship at its best!

[Al Launier]

Incredible! Beyond beautiful. How did you ever find the wood for the door? And, the drawers of bird's eye maple are gorgeous!

[glenn bradley]

Wonderfully done. That piece should have delivered a good dose of satisfaction because it is just beautiful. I think it is great that you are using variations on a repeated form. That really gets the old creative juices flowing.

[Yonak Hawkins]

Robert, that is very sweet.

[Robert Maloney]

Thanks Ken. The finish schedule was 2 coats of Charles Neil's Blotch Control, 2 coats of Lockwood Dyes Ambertone Cherry, 1 coat dewaxed shellac, followed by 3 or 4 coats of Target EM6000 Waterbourne Laquer.

[Robert Maloney]

The overall dimensions are 23" high x 16 1/2" wide x 11" deep. I had no set measurements when I started. This is what ended up looking best when I made a full scale drawing of it.

[Robert Maloney]

Thanks Andrew. I was really contemplating doing something like that with Cabriole legs before I came up with this design. Might have to revisit that. Great chance to learn how to do Cabriole legs.

[Robert Maloney]

Thanks Al. I got the wood for the door from a friend of mine. Bob Kloes. He has some beautiful lumber. Check him out. I was originally just going to use Curly Cherry veneer. Then by chance Bob posted a picture of a Cherry Crotch slab he was selling, and the gears started turning. The slab was 2" thick and I only sawed off about 1/2". So I still have a decent amount left if I decide to do another crotch door panel.

[Christopher Charles]

That's a great looking chest...not sure how you'll keep challenging yourself on the next one!

Best,
Chris

[Von Bickley]

Beautiful Spice Chest.... Looks more like Art Work than Wood Work. Great Craftsmanship.

[Pat Barry]

I love the door -- beautiful! Overall well done. I'm curious about the case construction.

[Bruce Page]

Wow! A work of art!

[Frederick Skelly]

Stunning! Just stunning!
I hope you'll post more of your work sometime.
Fred

[Robert Maloney]

Pat, What would you like to know?

[brian zawatsky]

Robert that is beautiful!

[Charlie Jones]

Very nice work. It looks challenging.

[Todd Trebuna]

beautiful. Love the Joinery on the Drawers.

[Marshall Harrison]

That is beautiful work Robert.

I especially love the contrast you got using the birdseye.

[Mike Wilkins]

Wow!!! Just added this to my long list of future projects. Beautiful work.

[Eric Cavin]

This is so impressive! I really like it.

[julian abram]

Wow, you knocked that one out of the park! The contrasting woods are just great. Thanks for sharing with us.

[Bill McNiel]

Robert,
Thank you for posting this outstanding piece. It checks off all the boxes; design, material selection, craftsmanship, finish and functionality. It is one of the finest pieces I've seen posted here.
KUDUS sir - Bill

[Robert Maloney]

Thanks Bill.

[michael langman]

Most beautiful piece Robert. Superb Craftsmanship. I would find it hard to close the front door on those beautiful drawer fronts.

[James & Zelma Litzmann]

This is absolutely beautiful!