Bradley Peterson, Pair of Huon Pine Apprentice Chests of drawers (CHESTS, CABINETS, SHELVING 2021)

A pair of Huon pine apprentice chests of drawers – 0.4 Scale replicas of a family heirloom. The drawer fronts are veneered with exceptionally rare highly figured birdseye Huon. Hand cut dovetails, turned legs and knobs. Drawers, knobs, legs and carcass constructed from solid Huon pine. Secondary kauri pine used for drawer runners and backing boards. 610mm high, 500mm wide, 230mm deep. Built during 2020 lock down, Melbourne by myself, a hobby woodworker. Apprentice chests were quite common in the early 19th century. Typically made by an apprentice to prove to his prospective master that he was worthy of of being indentured, as the apprentice could show off his skill, without wasting too much valuable timber. It is also thought that they were made as sample or salesman pieces that could be easily transported and shown to customers. The birdseye Huon pine used in these chests is extremely rare, as the timber was extensively logged in colonial times due to its natural oils that resist rotting, and so used in ship and boat building. As it is very slow growing there are few of the larger trees left and they are now protected. The hand cut dovetails on these chests are a labour of love, and there is about two months worth of work in the dovetails alone on these two. I find laying out and cutting dovetails to be quite therapeutic. I impress the order number of each drawer on the back and my maker’s Mark with letterpress type. I am not traditionally trained in cabinet making but for some reason just drawn to these smaller chests and love creating them. I think in a way it brings out the child in me, when I look at them.

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