Boxes and Commissioning
Around about 70% of my boxes are speculative. That is, I make what I like, I use woods in the way that the wood itself suggests to me and if I don’t like the end result I can put it on the stove. This means that I usually have a reasonable selection of what available. However, I do make commissioned pieces; a box to hold a treasured heirloom, a christening box, a chess set or a presentation piece although these will always be in my own style.
Wooden hinges
All my boxes have wooden hinges, some are large "strap" hinges, some are more subtle "back" hinges and sometimes I hand make wooden dowel and use these for pivots. I use almost exclusively English hardwoods and choose those woods that have that something extra or special about them. Ripple sycamore for example or burr elm or ancient yew. Some woods tend to suggest the style of box, burr oak I think tends to suit the large strap hinges whereas ripple sycamore tends to lend itself to an altogether more restrained design.
Back hinge jewellery box in beech
Strap hinge chest in Lacewood
Timescale
The amount of time needed to design and make a special commission can vary a great deal. I always have certain amount of timber in stock that I could make a box from reasonably quickly, possibly in as little as three weeks. However if a specific wood was needed then the process could take several months. The best thing to do is to contact me and we can discuss your requirements.
Personalise
All of my boxes are individually numbered and signed on the base and come with a certificate with information about the wood in general, how to care for the box and if possible, information about the particular tree the box was made from.
These certificates can be personalised with a few words either formally or informally
Carved letters are another possibility. I work with a carver and calligrapher who could persoanlise your box. Carved letters similar to Quercus would be around £100
Prices
The price of a box can vary enormously. I make a range of boxes which are priced at around £80, a leather lined desk box starts from around £200, a fully fitted and lined jewellery box may be nearer £800 and a chess box complete with board and triple weighted ebony and box wood pieces is £3,500. Price tends to reflect the time taken to make a box and its complexity rather than the materials, although in some cases such as Victory oak for example the material can have a significant effect on price.
Designed for the dales in Wych Elm
Special Commissions
Often I am asked to make a box for a special occasion or to contain something special. I have been commissioned to make boxes to celebrate Christenings, a box for a family bible, and a box for a collection of pens and even a box for cummerbunds! I have on several occasions made boxes from wood taken from the customer's own tree. I have made a box with seventeenth century wood from the Bodlein library in Oxford and I am currently working on limited edition of boxes from oak taken from HMS Victory.
There are very many different possibilities with boxes. If you like my style of work contact me and we can discuss woods and styles and your own preferences.