Boxes from Uluru

[Derek Cohen]

I recently returned from a couple of weeks in Alice Springs and Uluru (the Aboriginal name for Ayer's Rock). This is at the very heart of Australia, both geographically and spiritually.


This is Uluru ...


https://i.postimg.cc/fbK5QR13/19.jpg


There does not appear to be much around ...


https://i.postimg.cc/Y9kqs9tv/1200px-Uluru-helicopter-view.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/3rgw9HT4/1Alice_Springs_Kings_Canyon.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/C1bwvbWT/9.jpg


However it is filled with gorges ("gaps") and canyons and mountains, which one might not suspect unless you visit ...


https://i.postimg.cc/MKqpFr6s/4.jpg




https://i.postimg.cc/xT51Dyq9/5.jpg


There is incredible beauty in the desert ..


https://i.postimg.cc/pL1VyWD7/7.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Y0VbDDZb/14.jpg


For many millions of years, the many Aboriginal groups have learned to live off the land, recognising the medicines in bushes, eating grubs and lizards in- and under the grass, and hunting the local wildlife.


Simple but startlingly beautiful wild flowers ...


https://i.postimg.cc/mg78Vwwy/18.jpg



Uluru had a magic, at times hypnotic ...


https://i.postimg.cc/DyJC4F4D/17.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Px5yXkkS/20.jpg


For the first time I began to better understand Aboriginal art, its symbols and stories. Much of this is about maps ... landscapes. The circles are usually about women. There are streams and mythical creatures, such as a snake. There are flowers and trees. All symbolized ...


https://i.postimg.cc/gjwKhqjR/21.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/50K3jk4b/22.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/66ScXSbh/23.jpg


https://i.postimg.cc/28Zw8wPN/25.jpg


The symbols are everywhere.

What I decided to do is incorporate the essence of Aboriginal symbols in wood (not in colours, however), in boxes for example. In other words, using texturing in the wood to illustrate the symbols.

My aim is to build 2 or 3 boxes before mid-September, which is not far away. More realistically, just two. The reason is that son Jamie is getting married then, and there will be some visitors from overseas and interstate. I would like to make a gift of a box to Jamie's godfather (travelling from New Zealand) and godmother (visiting from New South Wales). As well, Rob Lee suggested a ring box, which I think is a terrific idea. So that will be three boxes.


Regards from Perth


Derek

[Derek Cohen]

The first box is complete bar any texturing. Frankly, as much as I want to add symbols, I am not sure whether this is appropriate in this particular case as the figure is interesting enough to stand on its own merits. I leave it to you to share your thoughts in this regard.

The box is a mini-chest ... single drawer chest. Small - this one is 190 x 175 x 70mm. (7 1/2" x 7" x 2 3/4". Case sides are roughly 1/2"). My thought was that could go on an entrance hall table to keep keys inside. Just an idea.

I scrounged about the workshop for small sections of timber. Pieces of USA Black Walnut scraps. One piece was large enough to waterfall the figure from the top to the drawer. The other two sections were all there was.

https://i.postimg.cc/NMSb36wb/1.jpg

Work done over three days. Finish is hard wax oil and wax. All hand tools following machine thicknessing.

The case is mitred through dovetails. Rebate at rear for drawer back. Dovetailed drawer.

https://i.postimg.cc/ZRgk83Np/6.jpg

One side ...

https://i.postimg.cc/Lhd08FYZ/7.jpg

Turned Ebony drawer pull.

Other side ...

https://i.postimg.cc/59H4y5Qx/8.jpg

Rear ...

https://i.postimg.cc/YqYtfpxZ/9.jpg

Good extension for the drawer (good fit) ...

https://i.postimg.cc/x8bwtCG7/5.jpg

I managed to save a thin slice from a resaw, and this became the drawer bottom ...

https://i.postimg.cc/mg4Bm0XD/10.jpg

Drawer with half-blind dovetails at front and through dovetails at rear. Drawer bottom held with a groove at the front and slips at the sides ...

https://i.postimg.cc/NjxYSpSx/11.jpg

Rear of drawer showing the slips and expanded bearing surface. The drawer front is 12mm and the drawer sides 6mm.

https://i.postimg.cc/xdTY2LSV/12.jpg

This is how I imagine one use of the box might be ...

https://i.postimg.cc/SKT4Njy2/13.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/Vs3YCSXX/14.jpg

Your thoughts now on texturing? If I did, my idea was to add texture to the sides and rear only, leaving the top and drawer as is. This is what I have in mind ....

https://i.postimg.cc/YSjVRRH0/pattern13.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Howard Pollack]

All of the images are gorgeous! I look forward to seeing the fully decorated boxes. I find myself becoming more interested in surface decoration, changing the focus from the beauty of the wood itself.
Thanks.- Howard

[Keith Outten]

Thanks for the beautiful pictures Derek. Looks like an amazing place to visit. I recently learned that Australia is a huge continent with a population about the size of Texas, just never thought about it in the past. Lots of wide open spaces. I would texture the entire box, it is more important a feature then the wood in this case.

[Jim Koepke]

Beautiful Derek, many Americans have likely only have heard of Alice Springs from seeing the movie, Kangaroo Jack.

jtk

[Dave Anderson NH]

Great photos Derek. As for the box, my experience is that carvings and surface decorations work better on woods which are not highly figured. I would save the texturing for more "bland" wood. JMHO

[Scott Winners]

I am in the same aesthetic camp as Dave on this one. What you have there is an artistic use of scrap, excellent execution, and I would have chosen oil and wax as well.

The folks who would have chosen high gloss polyurethane for that piece aren't wrong, they just have a different aesthetic than me.

But we as builders also have to consider the aesthetic of the intended recipient, the future owner, and I got nothing on that one. What would make the intended recipient happy.

As far as the carvings, neat stuff, and with some background info about what I am looking at it does sort of come alive.

What about a very discreet area of carving on the box top in the dark area - with the small piece on the top duplicated and possibly even expanded on the visible surface of the drawer bottom? With the keys in the open drawer as a scale guide, maybe a single woman perhaps 20mm diameter on the top, somewhere artistically off center, and then a family immediately below in the drawer bottom? Or a single man and a single woman on the box top repeated as parents with a village and kids in the drawer floor?

Just throwing them out there. If the drawer is already glued up that could be a serious pain in the neck.

[Keegan Shields]

Beautiful box and photos Derek! I’ve had some trouble planing walnut grain like that. Did you use a smoother after thicknessing or something else?

Australia is definitely on my bucket list to visit. Thanks for the great pictures.

[Phil Mueller]

Thanks for sharing the photos, Derek. Probably a part of the world I will never see first hand.

I’m in the camp to do some texture. Perhaps an inset of texture on the lid. I believe the wood grain will translate through the texture. The pattern you’ve chosen is a nice complement to the circular wood grain. Either way, beautiful box execution.

[Derek Cohen]

Beautiful box and photos Derek! I’ve had some trouble planing walnut grain like that. Did you use a smoother after thicknessing or something else?

Australia is definitely on my bucket list to visit. Thanks for the great pictures.


Keegan, the Walnut was planed with a Veritas Custom #4 Plane, in other words, with a close set chipbreaker. This had no difficulty with the grain.

The other plane I used was a Veritas Small Smoother, a BU plane with a 62 degree cutting angle. This was great for taking down the dovetails - like a large block plane. Notably, it did not leave as fine a finish as the #4 (which has a 42 degree frog).

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks for sharing the photos, Derek. Probably a part of the world I will never see first hand.

I’m in the camp to do some texture. Perhaps an inset of texture on the lid. I believe the wood grain will translate through the texture. The pattern you’ve chosen is a nice complement to the circular wood grain. Either way, beautiful box execution.

Thanks Phil, and others who responded.

As I mentioned at the start, I had doubts that this was the box to start with textured patterns. These are intended to enhance a plain surface, and the figure does not need it. The next box, which is underway, is Makore with some lovely pinks and browns but otherwise plain. A much better choice.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Richard Verwoest]

Derek, great looking box. And looks like an amazing trip. As far as the texturing goes, I think texturing the drawer front would really look nice.

[John Kananis]

Breathtaking. If only I could have explored places like that during my short visit... as for the boxes, they're beautiful; not sure if I'd carve them though.

[James Pallas]

Hi Derek. Very good pictures of your home-place. Excellent work on the box, as I have learned to expect. The only question I have, which I find difficult, is the carving of regional artwork. I find it difficult to research enough to be sure that I am accurate in the meanings of the work. I always try to make sure that I don’t do something that is disrespectful to the original work. Just wondering about that.
Jim

[Derek Cohen]

Hi Jim

That is a good observation. I have been reading books on the topic, and will play it safe anyway by using a few common symbols.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Derek, my wife and I visited Uluru in 2014. We found the area amazingly beautiful in many ways. Nice work on the boxes!

[Mark Gibney]

The Aboriginal art posted here is incredible. It reminds me of a Gustav Klimt painting, but has obviously been in existence from long before. I'm keen to seen more.

Regarding adding elements of this art as motifs to your box, I am siding with those saying maybe not. It will be your first time doing this, you used wood you scrounged, so if it all goes south do you have enough wood available to remake the box?
Maybe do something interesting to the drawer bottom? - a nice surprise on opening the box, plus it's replaceable if you're not happy with what you do.

[Stan Calow]

I think its a brilliant idea and worth exploring.

I've been to Uluru, and it does make a powerful impression.

[Derek Cohen]

Box #2

Originally I planned to make 3 boxes, one each for the godparents, and a ring box for the wedding ceremony. Then Lynndy, my dear wife, suggested making one for my soon-to-be daughter-in-law's parents (who are great people with whom we get on so well). So, now there are four boxes.


I decided to build this box next. And this time to incorporate Aboriginal symbols, as this was not the case with the previous box, where the figure was too nice to disturb.


The wood for the box is West African Macore, which is wonderful to work with, and has amazing chatoyance. It is perfect for this project as it has little figure or, rather subtle figure.


Here are the milled boards laid out for joining. The aim here has been to create waterfall sides to the top, both left, right and drawer front.


https://i.postimg.cc/QMWLhqL4/1.jpg


Once again, the construction is a mitred through dovetail case with a dovetailed drawer. Overall dimensions are 185mm (7 1/4") wide x 150mm (6") deep and 63mm (2 1/2") high. The case sides are 10mm thick (a little over 3/8").


The completed box ...


https://i.postimg.cc/6qhJF5sB/10.jpg


Waterfall on one side ...


https://i.postimg.cc/WzVc9qH9/11.jpg


With drawer extended (a nice piston fit) ...


https://i.postimg.cc/HxXC49Bc/12.jpg


Half-blind dovetails at front, through dovetails at the rear ...


https://i.postimg.cc/KvZyBLLj/13.jpg


The drawer sides are 6mm (1/4") Tasmanian Oak. No slips on this drawer. Instead, the 3mm (1/8") solid Macore drawer bottom is attached in a 3mm groove ...


https://i.postimg.cc/8zcQnSZV/14.jpg


It is free to expand towards the rear, and captured by a round-headed screw in a slot ...


https://i.postimg.cc/pVQHmkm3/15.jpg


Now let's took at the symbols of the top of the box ...


https://i.postimg.cc/zX0YjBSj/16.jpg


The two circles (three circles within each other) represent a group, in this case, we have two families. The connecting lines, with circles, reveal the journey each taken by two people to join and bring together these two families.


So, two down and another in the making ...


https://i.postimg.cc/7ZRvFWRJ/17.jpg


Regards from Perth


Derek

[Frederick Skelly]

Beautiful work, as always Sir!

[Jim Koepke]

As always an inspiration.

jtk

[Mel Fulks]

Love that sports stadium. What a wonderful job they did making it “blend in” to the countryside. I’d like to see a Super Bowl played there.

[Tom M King]

All gorgeous, as usual!

Where are the signatures and dates? All gorgeous, as usual. I expect your work will become collectors' items long after we're all gone. I think most of us can look at one of them, and know who made it, but I feel like they really should be signed and dated for future generations.

[Derek Cohen]

Thanks Tom. :)

What I am planning is a small inscribed brass plate to commemorate the occasion, placed inside the drawer.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Derek Cohen]

Box #3 - what would you do?

Last Saturday I built the case for another drawer-box out of Hard Maple. These photos do not do it justice. The wood here is just planed (and needs a little more planing), but already it shimmers and glows. The dovetails seem to float in three dimensions. Very promising.

https://i.postimg.cc/nz4rgqkN/1.jpg

I was aiming for waterfall sides, but there was very little interesting figure, and this was at the edge of one side. The side below is engineered to appear as a waterfall. The figure is hard to see in this light. It is subtle and very pretty ...

https://i.postimg.cc/fLnk88xx/2.jpg

The waterfall was possible on other side. With regards figure, the wood is rather plain, but keep in mind that the aim has been to use the wood as a canvas for texturing.
Unhappily, the board cracked as it went together. I was all glued up already, and no way to reglue the crack. Lynndy noticed it pretty quickly ...

https://i.postimg.cc/TPWpjzWd/3.jpg

So, what would you do - toss the box and build another, or use it regardless of the fault?

Regards from Perth
Derek

[Jim Koepke]

Can you ad an interesting inlay or incorporate it into some carved detail?

jtk

[Jim McCue]

Disheartening I am sure. I don't think I would give that as a gift. I would keep it for myself or repurpose it to a different use.

[Derek Cohen]

I have rebuilt the box. Made a new one the next day. Redo, Repair, Keep as is - I am a little too much of a perfectionist to let this go. So ...

https://i.postimg.cc/tR5vHTBx/4.jpg


However, the old box will be used. I have an idea to disguise the crack, and it will be fun to do this weekend.


Regards from Perth

Derek

[Christopher Charles]

Excellent example of the craftsmanship of risk.

And fun to have you ask a question I suspect you already knew the answer to :)

Beautifully done.

Best,
Chris

[Derek Cohen]

We left of with an incomplete Box 3, with a split in one side. I knew that I could not make a gift of this box, and the next day built another case, also in Hard Maple.

However, it was always the plan to complete Box 3, and now I would use some art to disguise the split. This is an afternoon's work, which included machining, sizing and dovetailing the drawer parts.

It occurs to add that, although small, these boxes are essentially about the same work as building a simple cabinet ... just less material. Here is the completed box ...


https://i.postimg.cc/c4kMVPBN/5.jpg

The disguised split ...

https://i.postimg.cc/Hkf0L5NZ/6.jpg

Rear of box ...

https://i.postimg.cc/mD4QY4B7/8.jpg

Drawer in West African Makore ...

https://i.postimg.cc/1tKDMd32/9.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/GpGFTtwc/10.jpg

Thanks for looking.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

A great looking piece of art/work.

jtk

[James Pallas]

Nice recovery! Happens sometimes with good hard dry material and nice tight pins. QSWO, my nemesis, nice tight pins and that last little tap or twist of the clamp and that tell tail little snap and you know without looking. “Workmanship of risk” I think they call it.
Jim

[Mike Allen1010]

Gorgeous work subtly designed and well executed. Great keepsake for a memorable occasion! Don't know that I've seen craving like that in your work before? Learning new skill - excuse to acquire new carving tools? As always, thanks for sharing- great inspiration for the beauty of smaller work.

Cheers, Mike

[Derek Cohen]

Mike, you touch on a conflict for me: Firstly, I do not have ANY carving experience, and have not purchased any carving tools. In any event, I would not call this carving. Perhaps embossing. The conflict is that I love the patterns created by wood alone, the figure. Even the Hard Maple I am using has interesting figure - very subtle, and one must look harder for it, but it is there. The thought of disturbing this figure is painful.

But, I came back from Uluru with a desire to commemorate the art and history there by incorporating it into a few boxes. The first box (in Black Walnut for the godfather) had figure that was too striking to disturb. The second box (for my in-laws) has a great message, of two families joined by a son and a daughter find each other. The current box was for the godmother, but one side cracked and I have made another for her. The current box has a story which would be understood by an Australian Aboriginal. The dots signify ‘welcome to the gathering/wedding)’. My wife has asked to have the box, which is great as I could not give it as a gift (with the disguised crack).

Regards from Perth

Derek