hope chest

The Newton Chest

I am pleased to share some images of this memorial-hope chest built for a kind family up North. They drove a long road to pick it up this weekend and meet my family and myself. and found the road back with a little less leg room I am afraid. I have sought that my work might be graced to carry God’s blessing for those who are receiving it. I certainly hope this one does. It is a dovetailed chest with drawers featuring an inlaid tree design and an unorthodox lid. The woods were all harvested and milled here in Kansas: black walnut and green ash, with quarter sawn white oak, eastern red cedar, ebonized black walnut, bald cypress and poplar (not from KS).

Walnut and Ash chest

Walnut and Ash Chest

Walnut and Ash chest

Fragments of an Unusual Chest

Will it float?

Finished Hope Chest

Here is the finished hope chest. The primary case, and lid frame are cherry, the drawer case and lid panels are black walnut, the trim is hard maple, the secondary wood for the drawers, till, and interior structural is white oak, the floor of the chest is eastern red cedar, and the drawer pulls are ebonized black walnut. The finish is 4 coats of danish oil.

Ebonized black walnut pulls.

The white oak till.

Hammered copper brackets for the lid support.

Hope Chest Final Assembly

Below in an essay of photos is the cherry and walnut (red cedar, maple, and white oak as well) hope chest assembled, sanded, and awaiting hardware and finishing.

Carving Letters and Numbers

Below are some significant numbers and letters carved on the sides of the cherry and walnut hope chest.

Tree Carving

Below is the nearly completed tree carved in relief upon a cherry panel- for the front of a commissioned cherry and walnut hope chest.

A detail

Tree Carving

I have begun the carving on the main front panel of a cherry and walnut hope chest. This carving is in cherry and features a shallow relief of a stylised tree.

Below is a gratuitous workshop picture with a goofy three-legged stool I turned out this week. The carved panel is held to the bench with hold-fasts.

Three Drawers

Here are a few photographs of the three drawers in the cherry and walnut hope chest currently in the shop. The faces on the drawers are walnut, while the secondary wood is white oak.

Hope Chest Drawer Case

Below is a group of photos of some details of the construction of the black walnut drawer carcass and the drawer fronts for the cherry and walnut hope chest. Please click on any of the pictures to view larger.