Robin Cromer, Fanfare for Federation fans (CHESTS, CABINETS & BOXES 2024)

Photos:

Robin Cromer

I purchased a board of Australian Red Cedar (Toona ciliata) a few years ago with stunning fiddleback grain that I had never previously seen in Red Cedar. I had made several boxes with the board previously but had sufficient left for another one this year. I then looked for an inlay or marquetry design with which to enhance a box using the Red Cedar. Some of the ‘fan’ designs I had seen intrigued me, so I investigated these further. Bob Van Dyke (Fine Woodworking) has some interesting articles and videos about fans including the use of ‘sand-shading’. He sometimes refers to them as ‘Federation Fans’. Further research indicated that the ‘Federalist Period’ in American history dated from 1788 to 1800. The American Constitution was ratified in 1788, George Washington became the first President, and a strong federal government was established. Federation for Australia was more than 100 years away! Federal-style furniture became popular during this period and lasted from 1789 until 1823. Notable makers of the time included John and Thomas Seymour and Duncan Phyfe. Furniture designs during this period often included edge banding, inlayed stringing and fans. With such a rich history behind ‘Federation Fans’, I chose to use them on one or more boxes. The Cedar box was made with ‘legs’, which were joined to the panels with small dominoes. The bottom of each panel was curved to complement the curved legs. The lid was made with mortice and tenon joinery and set down so that the sides were flush with the top of the lid. String inlay was applied to the front and sides of the box. For the front panel, the four corner fans and the central oval were made with contrasting veneers and inlaid into the panel (Photo 1). I used sand shading for the oval fan in the centre of the lid and placed this in a background of four-way book matched Sapele veneer (Entandrophragma cylindricum, Photo 2). A lift-out tray was installed (Photo 3) with both tray and box lined with maroon felt. The tray and supports were made from PNG Rosewood (Pterocarpus indicus). I have been a member of the Woodcraft Guild ACT Inc. since its inception almost 40 years ago. The Guild operates many ‘Special Interest Groups’ and I have presented courses ranging from wood turning, box-making and marquetry to different SIGs. The Scroll Saw SIG asked if I would demonstrate making sand-shaded fans to enhance small boxes that the group were making. For the demonstration, I made several band-saw boxes with Rose mahogany (Dysoxylum fraseranum) and enhanced the lids with sand-shaded fans (Photos 4 and 5). Robin Cromer, June 2024

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