Trillium Exchange #9: Progress

Finally some positive progress on my exchange gift. The decoration on the lid have been completed and the decoration on the box body has been started. I have learned a few things along the way and can already see myself redoing this box at a later date.

Since the bas relief was not working out I decided to use chip carving to outline the figures. The chip carving is going much faster which is a good thing since I want to have the project finished and in the mail by Jan 30. Once oiled, as the lid is now, the figures look awesome and I am really happy with the outcome. I think Rylan will be pleased as well, even if it is not a perfect replica of the original.

When I started on the box I realized the proportions of the box are different than those of the original. I new they were a little off because I chose to go with 4 inch sides but the measurements provided on the Museum website were 6 x 3 x 3 inches, but judging by the proportions in the images the original base is 3 x 2 and the lid is 1.5 or 2 at the peak. To make my box the same proportions I am carving the images so that there is a wide border at the base. I am then going to use a line or two from the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem to fill in the wide border after the carving is all done.

My next attempt at this box will be very different. Instead of building the box to the size wood I have or to the size listed on the website, I plan to build it as close as possible to the proportions shown in the photos. I also plan to do the next one in bas relief. Not only to make a more accurate reproduction but to practice my relief carving.

I am finding myself completely obsessed with the box. I think about it constantly. I think of ways to improve my methods of construction, my relief carvings, my proportions, and even think of ways to recreate it perfectly by starting with a solid piece of green wood, instead of building the box and lid from commercial slab wood.

While I have not thought much about the hinges or lock for this currently project I do think about them for the next generation version. I want the hinges be hand made and to have the repousse work that is barely visible on the one remaining piece of the hinges. The lock is completely missing in the extant piece so I have been trying to find out more about box locks for the Anglo-Saxon period so that I can eventually reproduce that as well.

Trilliem Exchange: #8

 I have had to start over on the box. I was finding the wood quite chippy and recommendation on the carving forums was to soak it for an hour in water. Unfortunately, the glue I used was water soluble and the pieces came apart. The next morning I found the long narrow panels had warped to the point of not being able to glue them back together again.

Of course before I could make a new lid, life got in the way and I am only now coming back to this project. I have decided that instead of deep relief I am going to use chip carving to create the images from the original onto the one I am making. After all the images are chip carved I will go back and do a very shallow relief work on the clothing just to give it some texture.

Trillium Exchange: #7

I have made some more progress on the carving. I did end up ordering some miniature carving tools. They have helped tremendously. Now the only set back is my skill at relief carving, which it turns out I am not very good at, and my own eyesight. I wear glasses for detail work but wish I had some of the magnifying glasses you can wear over your prescription glasses. It would go a long way to helping see the work more clearly.

I have discussed this project with my mentor, who is not part of the Trillium Exchange, to see if she thinks I am on track time wise. She has full confidence in my ability to at least get the idea across if not create a perfect replica. But, she agrees that considering the time it has taken to get this much carving done (12+) hours, that I may need to shrink the scope of the project. Her suggestion was to complete the lid but leave the rest of the box uncarved.

The perfectionist in me says no way, all or nothing, the realist sees her point and the merit in her suggestion. I can spend the rest of my time making thing lid look as good as possible. Getting a really good looking lid will provide the recipient with a nice display piece, that showcases my skill, without making me stress to the point of illness over getting the whole thing done.

Trilliem Exchange: #6

I carved the first panel in the lid of my box. Turned out the tools I have are just to large to get int and make the details seen in the original. My eyes and skill may be an issue as well. I've ordered some new micro carving tools to get into all those tight spaces and can hopefully salvage the carving I have done and do better on the carvings still to come.

I do know that who ever made the original box had a high degree of skill and great eyesight. Or possibly some way to magnify the work so he or she could get in all the detail they did. I zoomed in on the front panel of the box and realized that every single person is holding something in their hands. Goblets, scrolls, and what looks like a feather quill are just a few of the things I was able to identify.

I know my skills will not allow me to recreate the box perfectly, I do hope I can at least get the feel and idea across to my recipient.

Trillium Exchange: #5

I've been rather remiss in documenting the creation of the box, which will eventually be carved with scenes of the life of Christ. I will Also trying to make a pair of brass hinges decorated like the single piece on the extant box. I have about a month and  half left to get the box finished and into the mail. Here are some photos of the progress and completed box, along with one of my first hinge trials.