CHESTS

The chest is perhaps the most enduring form of furniture for storing people’s most treasured possessions. Used by brides, seafarers, craftsmen, explorers, soldiers and pirates, chests have an almost mystic quality because of the stories which surround them.

I make chests the traditional way using solid timber, with a ‘six board’ construction and hand cut dovetail joints, which add considerably to their beauty, strength and durability. Dovetails are the woodworker’s ultimate joint with their strength coming from the way they interlock instead of having to rely on glue.

Lids are supported with solid brass stays and can be secured if necessary with lock and key, a padlock, or cords as in the times of the Pharaohs.

Inside, the chests can be completely personalised with trays and secret compartments.

A recent interesting civic project was the provision of 12 large chests for the new, Heritage Lottery funded, Temple of Minerva Visitor Centre in the Botanical Gardens of Bath’s Royal Victoria Park. Six open sided chests of oiled Scots Pine line two sides of the room. Six more chests made from Oak, Ash, Beech, Yew, London Plane and Elm have drop down doors to access the storage space within.