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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Hobart, Tas
    Posts
    1,211

    Default Playing card boxes

    My wife is visiting her aunt and uncle in Germany at the moment. Her aunt and uncle have had a standing engagement every Friday evening with another couple for the past thirty to forty years, where they get together at each other's house, alternating each week, and play cards late into the night.

    The first time I met them over twenty years ago, I couldn't speak any German, but could play cards, so was able to connect and interact with them. And they were very gracious to this then young Australian buck.

    Those two couples have been a shining example to my wife and me over the years of what marriage and friendship should be, and so hold a special place in our lives.

    With my wife's trip planned, I wanted to make them something special, to try and convey our appreciation to them, and as my German is rather rudimentary, I thought a box to hold playing cards for each couple would suffice.



    Both boxes have Tasmanian Blackwood sides, with Huon Pine splines and internal dividers with a felt base. One box has a Blackheart Sassafras lid, while the other is made of Myrtle.



    Both boxes were finished with shellac and wax (which was as amazing as that finish always produces for me), with the exception of the huon pine dividers, which I left raw so that after being left closed up between games, would hopefully release its wonderful fragrance when opened, at least for the first several months, but hopefully longer. As you can see, I left some shavings in situ for the initial opening.

    They were presented about a week ago, to two flabbergasted couples according to my wife. So all in all a great success. Both have vowed that the boxes will sit in public view, and certainly not be placed in a cupboard or draw.

    Oh, there is a third box which will be ours, but it is still under construction. All the boxes will have been made from a single piece of Blackwood, so they, like our lives, are tied together across the globe.

    On a closing note, this is the first time I felted the base of a box, and only because Aldav noted the lack of a covering on my last box, and boy, what a difference it made, so thanks Aldav!

    Kind regards,
    Lance

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Auckland New Zealand
    Posts
    312

    Default

    They are lovely Lance.

    I like the linings in them better as well.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Gold Coast
    Age
    70
    Posts
    2,730

    Default



    Nice boxes with great connections to both Australia and the people who will use them!
    Franklin

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Sutherland Shire, Sydney
    Age
    71
    Posts
    1,301

    Default

    Really nice boxes Lance. I particularly like the way you have done the splines, looks very classy. The shellac and wax finish is ideal for these boxes.
    I am sure the recipients will treasure their gifts from down under.

    Alan...

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Hobart, Tas
    Posts
    1,211

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Al View Post
    I particularly like the way you have done the splines, looks very classy.
    Thanks, but the credit really goes to this forum for inspiration when I saw someone else’s box with what I would call Art Deco splines (though I cant find it now). I had always only done three per corner.

    I only came across the idea the day before I cut the splines, so it was a sort of “why not” moment. I was under time pressure though, and didn’t factor in the time it takes to prepare, cut and score (I need them to fit a crosscut saw blade profile) sixty splines across three boxes! I worked late into the night, and my fingers were about to fall off from the cold.

    Having said all that though, yes, I think they look very classy. I was worried they would look too busy and detract from the simple elegance, but in the end it concern proved unfounded.

    Lance

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Rylstone NSW
    Posts
    59

    Default

    Top effort, Lance. As always, it is the story that goes with the crafted object that makes all the difference.

    Regard
    Brosh

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