May 2002
The design is very simple, with a Japanese influence.
The finish is a simple hand-sand to 240 grit, then clear wax. The maple seemed quite soft when I started working it, but beneath the surface was much harder.
Planing the rippled grain was hard work to avoid tear-out, but gave a beautiful
sheen in the end.
Inside has a base of red Japanese paper.
The top is a simple lid located by a rebated edge. The handle is a snippet
of ebonised walnut, set in a large through hole.
End joinery is half-lap joints, held by bamboo pins. Pinned half laps or open tenons like this would be rare in the West, but are common in Japanese boxes.
I've since made a few more of these boxes, in maple and walnut. There's a board of
nicely-figured plane (lacewood) waiting too.
