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23rd July 2011, 10:07 PM #1
A cutlery box in a Georgian style
I have been promising my good lady a box for her inherited cutlery set for a long time, a long, long time. Fortunately she is a patient type. The cutlery set deserves a good home, it is a German 800 sterling silver 12 place set of insignificant age. I had thought long and hard about the design and could find no inspiration either from within my own imagination or without. Then one day I stumbled upon a Georgian serpentine-front knife box similar to this one:
Attachment 176916
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It was love at first sight and I knew that this was what I must build for our cutlery set. That was two years ago and the enchantment of the design has not diminished.
I can’t do an historical synopsis as well as Woodwould but in summary, boxes of this type, often in pairs, would have held the valuable silver flatware and cutlery of stately houses locked away under the watchful eye of the lady of the house. Apparently they were often displayed on the sideboard as a sign of prestige. They seem to have been popular from the early 18th century into the early 19th century and along with the urn-type knife boxes (below) of Hepplewhite and others were the most common patterns of the day.
Attachment 176917
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I thought it was prudent to make a trial box in order to practise the skills necessary for this demanding project and I settled on a double serpentine-front design similar to this box:
Attachment 176918 Attachment 176921
DI-1212-1_W-2270.jpegReplica Georgian knife box.jpg
There is little information available on the methods of construction of these boxes, although in the last few days I have managed to source a periodical with a story on the construction of a pair of modern replicas.
With little to go on at the time, I had several fruitful communications with Woodwould who gave me a general overview of the type of construction of the original boxes. I’m very grateful to WW, for without this information I would not have been able to proceed.
My trial box is constructed from scrounged materials. Old-growth hoop pine for the sides and back, spruce for the serpentine front, which is a brickwork construction, Australian red cedar for the base, lipping and insert and NG rosewood veneer off-cuts scavenged from a local plywood manufacturer.
I am in the process of applying a shellac finish to the box, and trialling a pattern for the panel which separates individual pieces of cutlery. I’m also awaiting arrival of period hardware. Unfortunately I cannot source a period-accurate lock. It is not critical, this box will likely be fitted out as a chisel box for my workbench, and our only servants, two cats, will find little interest in the contents of the actual cutlery box. Here are some photos of the current state of the work.
Attachment 176919 Attachment 176920
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Woodwould please step in if you wish to add any further information.Last edited by mic-d; 24th December 2023 at 10:17 AM.
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23rd July 2011, 10:49 PM #2gravity is my co-pilot
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That's a superior chisel rack! Very nice indeed.
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23rd July 2011, 11:12 PM #3Cliff.
If you find a post of mine that is missing a pic that you'd like to see, let me know & I'll see if I can find a copy.
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23rd July 2011, 11:43 PM #4
It's turned out very well. You obviously got the brickwork smoothed out enough to veneer on.
.
I know you believe you understand what you think I wrote, but I'm not sure you realize that what you just read is not what I meant.
Regards, Woodwould.
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24th July 2011, 12:08 AM #5
Very very impressive work...I look forward to the second edition!
Like my old third grade teacher used to do....you deserve a star stamped on your forehead.
CongratulationsAnd my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
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24th July 2011, 12:55 PM #6
Thank you gents. I'm not sure about the star on my forehead tho
WW, once I sized the entire box with hide glue and gave it a sand back, it became apparent just how good hide glue is. I think I oversized it, there was a goodly measure of sanding involved!
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24th July 2011, 01:08 PM #7gravity is my co-pilot
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24th July 2011, 01:12 PM #8.
I know you believe you understand what you think I wrote, but I'm not sure you realize that what you just read is not what I meant.
Regards, Woodwould.
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24th July 2011, 01:48 PM #9
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24th July 2011, 03:32 PM #10
thats a stunning replication
I have seen one of these boxes in my younger years ca't recall if it was an Aunts or just someone we visited could even be an uncle who's into antiques.
Of course the OT Knife Urns caught my eye also and was looking with hope you may have decided to have a go at that also . Although I fail to see how knives were ever stored within.
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24th July 2011, 04:33 PM #11
Thanks Wheelin.
The urns are very elegant but no I won't be making one... yet. Might have something to do with not being a turner.
I thought Woodwould sent me a line drawing of an urn showing the internal arrangement but I can't find it now. The knives sit vertically in their own vertical pigeon holes.
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24th July 2011, 04:37 PM #12
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25th July 2011, 03:52 AM #13Senior Member
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Wowsers. Impressive indeed. Surly the humble everyday knifes and forks would be better served in these practise pieces than chisels? Mind, I love me chisels too, but.. If I was the better half they would be going inside on show somewhere...
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25th July 2011, 08:20 AM #14
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25th July 2011, 09:36 AM #15
Wow Michael! Stunning!!! And you are making a second??
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