Two green leaves gently fold around the rim of this painted catchall tray, which is made from maple hardwood, and measures 9.25" by 3.75" by 1". Soft carved lines and bright copper tacks mark out the silhouette and veins of the leaves, and the matte look and subtle texture of the finish add to its elegance.
How it was made: After milling and preparing the maple hardwood, I cut and sanded the leaf silhouettes, and then carved the veins by hand using a u-gouge. The two "leaves" that make up the rim of the tray were soaked and bent around a form, and then tacked in place with fine copper nails and clamped. After a 24-hour drying period, the bottom was fitted and glued in place, with the support of tiny wooden pegs. Finally, I used milk paint and hardwax oil to seal and finish the tray by hand.
My environmental values:
All of my bentwood boxes and trays are made from responsibly-sourced wood given a second life—I buy short boards of North American maple, walnut, and cherry from other wood studios that aren't able to use such small pieces. By the magic that is water, heat, and traditional woodbending, these are turned into reproduction Shaker boxes.
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