All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 1
All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 2
All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 3
All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 4
All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 5
All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne 6

All-Saints Episcopal Church Aumbry In Walnut And Wenge With Silver Enamel And Cloisonne

$25,000

An aumbry is a self-supporting, locked box that holds the chalice of the host and holy oils used for the Eucharist. When mounted at the alter it is known as a tabernacle. This box on stand is a two-piece construction. The box may be removed from the stand for use as a tabernacle. The cobalt blue enameled silver door inlays and the more remarkable cloisonne borders depicting the 365 saints of the Episcopal Church were made by silversmith Marietta Loudon of Carson City Nevada. I have laboriously hand inlaid the delicate enameled "arabesque" letters into the equally carefully chosen walnut door, which spell out the words "I AM." The cloisonne (each unique saint and the two crosses are "drawn" with fine wires and enameled on silver) border is set into the wenge frame of the aumbry. The door swings on the dreaded "invisible" hinges, which are always a challenge to install. The frame of the box is of thinner wood than the stand, perhaps in the style of the "Ark of the Covenant." This collaborative effort was patronized by a long-time member of the church, Jean Packard, who left the money in her estate in the hope that it would be used to build an aumbry that is a work of art. You may notice that the sexton immediately cut off the ends of the "legs" as the right Reverend Gleeson, for who I have now built five pieces, did not mention that it would sit on a shelf that restricted that dimension:) Needless to say, the more expensive part of this piece is the incredible silversmithing!

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Jonathan Walkey

Jonathan Walkey

Jonathan Walkey Furniture Maker

La Mesa, CA
Member since: 2013
4.9
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Jonathan Walkey is retired professional furniture maker who now makes selected pieces for discriminating clients. I am a one man studio, specializing in decorative arts and crafts, mid-century, Greene & Green, etc. furniture. my own personal style generally includes contrasting hardwoods with beautiful grains and hand worked inlays. In between commissions I simultaneously work on personal studio furniture projects.

I was raised in Lincoln Massachusetts where my father was the director of the DeCordova Museum of modern art. My mother worked as an expert in fine crafts and furniture . I attended many arts and crafts classes and summer art camps at the Museum. I was trained as a silversmith at age 11 and at age 12 built a 10 foot kayak made of wood and canvas. I was a U.S. Navy trained aviation mechanic and earned my living for 15 years as a master mechanic, working mainly on motorcycles. I am also a former carpenter, criminal appellate attorney, credentialed teacher, professional writer, and painter.

Today I apply my talents and interests to building fine arts and craft furniture. My lifelong continuing education combines training of the mind with training of the hands. What you buy from Jonathan is fine art as well as heirloom quality furniture built to last many lifetimes. These qualities are reflected in the cost of my work, neither of which should ever be compared with that of commercial furniture.

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