Cape Blanco Lighthouse Jewelry Box
This jewelry box was made for a lighthouse enthusiast. The wood that was used for the box itself is quite unique - curly fir. Because it has a very twisted grain pattern, this wood cannot be used for furniture or other building purposes. For this reason, it was pulled from the "green chain" at Weyerhaeuser timber in North Bend, Oregon about 40 years ago and has been stored and dried since then. The original owner asked me to use a piece of it to make a jewelry box for his daughter-in-law, Kricket. I selected this design because the Cape Blanco lighthouse is a distinctive landmark on the Oregon coast. My version is made of birdseye maple, ebony, and African mahogany set in book matched veneers . The "light" is inlaid mother-of pearl and the lighthouse dome has been subtly inlaid with copper. The fir tree is maple burl. The marquetry is framed with ebony and maple.
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I am a retired physician who makes jewelry, keepsake, memorial, and decorative boxes that are typically commissioned by people who wish to give them as gifts. I have been doing this for several years, but have focused on working with exotic hardwoods and more intricate designs since I retired about three years ago. While there are a lot of woodworkers who enjoy making small boxes, I believe that I have been able to differentiate myself from them because I have developed my marquetry skills and now do almost all my decorative and inlay work with a double bevel technique that I learned from the artisan David Marks.
I work alone and handcraft every item to meet the unique specifications of my customers. Typically, they provide me with a reference image and a design request. I then execute the project in about 2 to 3 weeks, spending about an equal amount of time on the construction and finishing of the work. A typical example of this is provided in my project entitled “Keepsake Box for Sailboat Captain.” In addition, I make some of my own designs that I sell. The butterfly marquetry jewelry box project is a good example of this.
My goal is to have the joy of engaging in my hobby while recovering the cost of my materials while have a bit extra to add a few new tools. But, most importantly, I want to be able to provide a unique prized decorative box that fills a special need.
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