Ogee dovetail box project

The Ogee Dovetail box is the first project where I was invited to take my learning in a stylistic direction of my choosing.

The brief for this box was that it had to be constructed using a dovetail joinery. This in itself was to be one of the features of the project, so it couldn't be hidden from view in the finished piece.

With my interest in antique furniture and wanting to pursue that, I asked if I could use some of the reclaimed mahogany from the college store. The design cues I took for this box were inspired by the recent acquisition of a C19th American ogee clock.

The main focus of the project was learning how to produce very accurate dovetails. This means they have to fit together well with strength and precision, with no gaps. They were all cut using a hand saw, paring with chisels for accurate fit. The project included precise fitting of brass hinges. The ogee moulding was machine routed for consistency and fitted to the lid of the box. The accuracy of the mitre join on each corner had to fit perfectly for a quality fit and finish.

In keeping with traditional furniture making I chose to French polish the box. This was extremely challenging due to the small size of the piece and the differing techniques required for internal corners of the framed ogee lid.

The final stage in the process was to finish the box with furniture wax to protect it and tone down the polish slightly for a warmer, more aged look. The mahogany responded really well to these techniques which naturally gave it an antique aesthetic. This suited the wood choice and styling with the direction that I want to continue into my next project.