Glenn Calderwood, Irish Flute Box (CHESTS, CABINETS & BOXES 2023)

Photos:

Jeremy Ward

My daughter plays Irish music and recently upgraded her wooden flute to one made by a renowned Irish flute maker. She asked me to craft her a case worthy of its provenance. I took my inspiration from the Chi Rho page of the Book of Kells, a mediaeval Irish manuscript housed at Trinity College Dublin. The inlay on the top of the case is a stylization of one of the ancient symbols used therein. The generic wood used in the construction of the box is American Oak. The inlay incorporates Purple Heart, Bird’s Eye Maple and Burnt Ash woods. In constructing the box I used a simple design utilizing mitered corners with splines mirroring the woods used in the inlay. Several techniques were used in the construction of the inlay. Firstly, a pattern was made by means of common geometry practices, then the pieces cut accordingly via the scroll saw, hand fitted and glued to a marine plywood base. This was then trimmed and fitted into the top of the box utilizing the router. Finally the box was shaped, finished with 1200 grade sandpaper, and waxed to the desired sheen. The furniture is solid brass supplied on request. The internal section was crafted from display foam cut on the scroll saw.

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