Attn: John Everdell, 2007

Cedar, pine, cherry, fir, sapeli, cotton-linen fabric, milk-paint, brass, steel. 32 x 22 x 60 Inches.

This piece appeared in the book 500 Cabinets: A Showcase of Design & Craftsmanship, Lark books, 2010.
Read how I built this piece in an article published in Woodwork Magazine: http://www.woodwork-magazine.com/index.php/archives/325

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I am a strong advocate of using recycled materials and discarded wood in art and design; in fact, most of my pieces are made from rejected wood or abandoned items found on the street or in Harvard's recycling facility. So when I noticed several irregular cedar boards in the scrap bin of my mentor's woodshop, I was immediately intrigued. What attracted me was the complex texture and character of the wood. I was fascinated by its cracks and checks, different hues and earthy appearance; and yet I was even more thrilled to discover the written evidence of its functional past. There was a shipping address written in permanent marker on one of the boards, along with a return address. It turns out the cedar boards had been used to crate a shipment of claro walnut sent from California to John Everdell’s studio in Medford.

To protect from damage during shipping, valuable wood is usually crated with cheap low quality lumber that is often irregular or defective. The unusual coloring and remarkable texture of the boards I found in John’s workshop inspired me to create the piece. This work is a rare opportunity to appreciate the beauty of wood in its raw form.

It only seems natural that my highboy should have a tent (a “proper” highboy always has a pediment), and in this case, a tent-pediment. The tent allows the viewer to see the address written on the top of the chest. The tent was made by my talented friend and fellow artisan Leslie Hartwell