Looking for Australian box maker

[Barry Parker]

G'Day All,

I am looking for an Australian box maker to make a custom box to house a very special pocket watch.

The watch works were made in 1718, but it had no case or dial when I bought it.

Together with my Australian goldsmith, engraver and shagreen worker, we have made triple gold cases, dial, pinwork and hands and produced a high grade piece, worthy of a nice high grade watch box, in the old traditional style.

It has taken us five years to complete the project and I wish to obtain a show piece box, made by an Australian, in Australian woods, so that the whole project shows of the work of the all Australian artisans involved in this project.

If you like a challenge, this could be for you.



If you would like to see more pics of the watch, see;
http://nawcc-ihc-mb.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9826095371/m/540108736 (http://nawcc-ihc-mb.infopop.cc/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/9826095371/m/540108736)

My email is:-
[email protected]

The dimensions of the box will be about;
4.9/16 inches long
3.3/4 inches wide
1.1/2 inches depth of box
1.3/4 inch with lid closed.
2.3/8 inch diameter of the well in which the watch sits.
3/4 inch depth of that well.

Any ideas on what would look good will be welcome.

I am thinking quality over cost and perhaps gold fittings, or banding, a gold plaque on the lid, which would be hand engraved with names of all artisans and a lock and key.

Regards, Barry Parker

[Gumby]

If you want it done professionally, get in touch with Roger Gifkins.

see www.gifkins.com.au

I'm not sure if it's his thing but it's worth the phone call. He is one of Australia's premier box makers.

[boban]

And from Roger's site you will see a link to Andrew Crawford's site. He seems to do some very fancy work, possibly something you might be after.

[zenwood]

I'd tend to keep the box for this magnificent watch quite simple, so as not to compete for attention with it. The colours in the watch would suit something in macassar ebony quite well (or gidgee if you wanted something similar in Australian timber). Other options I would suggest are jarrah or tasmanian myrtle.

I nice rich red velvet lining would be nice.

Absolutely stunning craftsmanship there, Barry.

[journeyman Mick]

Barry,
just wondering what a shagreen worker is?:confused:

Mick

[Barry Parker]

G'day Mick,

Shagreen is tanned and dyed skin, often used on watch cases (and Boxes, cigarette cases etc).

They use skins from sharks, sting rays, snakes, fish, or the skin from the crupper (under tail area) of a horse or donkey.

My watch case has two bands of sea snake skin, and the fancy gold pins go through that.

The shagreen worker, softens the leather skins and moulds them to the shapes required, then it is glued onto the surface to be decorated.

The picture is of part of a sting ray skin and shows the detail of the pattern. A full sting ray skin has a unique diamond shape in the middle of the back. See;

http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~barry_parker/shagsmallcompare.jpg (http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~barry_parker/shagsmallcompare.jpg)

http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~barry_parker/shagfullskin.jpg (http://www.cirruscomms.com.au/~barry_parker/shagfullskin.jpg)


Barry

[Barry Parker]

And from Roger's site you will see a link to Andrew Crawford's site. He seems to do some very fancy work, possibly something you might be after.
Hi boban,
I had a look at Andrew Crawford's site and that is the quality I am after, But Andrew is English and I would like to keep this job all Australian.

Barry Parker

[Barry Parker]

Hi zenwood,

Thanks for taking the time to do the backgrounds.

It sure looks best on red velvet and it is currently in a cheap looking box in that colour.

I agree that the box should be simple, but elegant.

I did check some Australian timbers via the links on this site and I like;
Queensland Walnut, Jarrah, Red River Gum and Silver Ash for contrast.

It is planned that the lid of the box have a gold cartouche, with hand engraved credit details,(also to include the box makers name), something like this pic where I used the Walnut and Ash colours.

Barry Parker

[Lignum]

Best box maker i have come across is Peter Cook from Perth. His work is stunning. A run down on him is in AWR No18 and their is a contact number for him as well:)

[Barry Parker]

Best box maker i have come across is Peter Cook from Perth. His work is stunning. A run down on him is in AWR No18 and their is a contact number for him as well:)
Thanks Lignum,

I tried searching Google for Peter Cook, but came up empty.

Searched this wood site Members List as well, but couldn't find him there either.

I don't have AWR No18 either.

Regards, Barry Parker

[Bodgy]

Zen

Disagree re the colour. Red is royal but over-done to buggery. The green looks good but what about Imperial Purple? Make a statement!

Imperial Purple with a dovetailed Jarrah box, polished to 1200 and buffed with Organoil then Sponsor's edible wax.

[Scally]

Barry
A spectacular watch. It is easy to see why you would want a special box.

Eugene Zacharewicz is based in Queenbeyan, NSW.
He makes pretty amazing boxes.

This link has some of his work:

http://www.veneerinlayaustralia.com.au/cgi-bin/engine.pl?Page=page.html&Rec=335

Phone: 02 6297 1846

He uses mainly Australian timbers and likes to add things like gold nuggets and opals to knobs and catches and uses skins to line some of his boxes.

He is certainly worth contacting and I know he takes orders - big and small.

I hope you find something to do your watch justice.

[Lignum]

If anyone out their has AWR No 18, have a look at the pic on pg49. Its an exploded view of Peter Cooks "Gold Box" it took 250 hours to make. The pic would make a sensational poster:)

[zenwood]

what about Imperial Purple? Make a statement!

Here's some other options:

lantana
pure purple
purple rose
julia's rose
old bone

[RufflyRustic]

I like the pure purple.

As for recommending people from this forum, Zenwood and DPB are my choices.

Cheers
RufflyRustic