Oak Chest

Design

Designed with oak in mind, this piece presents the beauty of quarter sawn oak in the panels. Other features include hand cut dovetails and knuckle joint hinges. The panelled design was conceived to showcase the interesting patterns that can naturally occur in the timber. The wood for this piece was hand selected from a timber merchant in Buckinghamshire selecting only the most beautiful pieces. The chest is finished with Danish oil built up to give an even sheen.

Inside

This piece was designed to function as a traditional blanket chest, to be placed at the foot of a bed, and for this reason the inside of the chest was left clear and undivided. However, it could be used for storing shoes in a hallway, or as a low surface for magazines or cushions in the sitting room. There is ample space inside for a double duvet and additional blankets. Once opened, the workings of the hinges are revealed, a point of interest for anyone, especially woodworkers.

The inspiration for this piece came from looking at traditional monks’ chests. The idea of a monks’ chest was that the chest was also a seat, and could be transformed into a table with the use of a simple mechanism. This inspired me to build a chest which included a mechanism for the wooden hinges. The design gradually developed, and by the time it left my sketch book it was more a modern take on a blanket chest, with many arts and crafts details, the beautiful timber being at the heart of the design.

Hinges

One of the main features of this piece is the two oak knuckle joint hinges that allow the lid of the chest to open. These were hand cut from one piece of oak, which was then jointed into its place on the chest as part of the straps that go around the box at either end. Although complicated to cut, this detail really makes the piece and carries through the arts and crafts theme of the design.

Detail

As with many designs the effectiveness of the piece is all in the details, and how and where they are used. The details on the chest include the dovetailed ‘straps’ and end grain pegs, which are in keeping with its arts and craft style, the panels were rebated before the frames were assembled to leave a neat shadow line around each panel. The finger recess and, of course, the knuckle joint hinges, all play their part, but for me, it is all about the use of space with this piece, the gaps between the straps and the box.

Dimensions

The dimensions of the chest are…
Width: 1050mm / 41½ inches
Depth: 400mm / 15¾ inches
Height: 510mm / 20 inches