MEK Woodworks
  • Home
  • Store
  • 52 Boxes
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Teaching

6 distinct boxes in a common style

5/1/2015

2 Comments

 
Picture
Yesterday, I mentioned that I had made six boxes using the same core set of design details. You can see all six in the gallery below. To my eye the boxes are all clearly related, but also distinct from one another. I suppose one could argue that the two turned boxes (painted body v. painted lid) are too similar to be called distinct. But for me, the little walnut round box with the yellow lid is a substantial step up in elegance. It feels like a different creature. (I also believe it's the best thing I've made.) Here's what's common to them.

The sides are raised 1/8 in. off the surface by a bottom that is inset from the perimeter of the box.

The top sits in a rabbet and is 1/8 in. proud of the top edge of the sides.

There are three woods in use for each box: The sides are the primary wood, the top is the secondary wood, and the lift is the tertiary wood. Paint has replaced either the primary or second wood in some. Also, the woods are always complimentary to one another, never contrasting. (I hate the notion of contrasting woods.) And the relationship between the color of the sides and the color of the lid reinforces the shape of the lid(s), allowing it to make a stronger geometric statement.

There is an emphasis and dependence on good proportion. This started with the first box. All three of its sides are related by the golden mean. This emphasis on proportion explains the clean, simple lines. When you gussy up a piece with ornamentation or complicated lines, you begin to obscure the proportions--or so I think.

2 Comments
Phil
5/6/2015 09:35:03 am

Matt, in considering boxes 1 & 2, it seems as if the lid and sides are made using "contrasting" materials (light vs. dark) rather than complimentary. What do you dislike about contrasting tones? Is it mostly the stark contrasts like walnut and maple that get to you?

Reply
Matt Kenney
5/6/2015 03:11:55 pm

Phil,

Thanks for the question. At one level you are correct, the sides of those two boxes are darker than the lids. However, I don't think that makes them contrasting. Purple heart and maple contrast one another. They are starkly different and there is no connection between them. The same, I think, goes for walnut and maple. But the spruce lid of the second box compliments the cherry sides because of the earthen brown grain lines. They mediate between the lighter shade of the spruce and the cherry. Even the lighter color of the spruce has a reddish brown cast to it. In the first box, the flame birch has an undertone (it is slightly brown in cast) that ties it to the English elm sides. I hope that makes sense. If not, I can try again.

Thanks for reading,

Matt

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    I love furniture design, and smart techniques. This blog is about both.

    Archives

    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    October 2018
    July 2018
    October 2017
    September 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

    Categories

    All
    52 Boxes
    Box
    Design
    Kumiko
    Turning

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Store
  • 52 Boxes
  • Portfolio
  • About
  • Blog
  • Teaching