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Maritime
Sea Chests
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The
sea chests that I produce are authentic maritime reproductions,
evolving after extensive research in the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
The meticulous detail on the chest assures the owner that time and
quality have gone into building the chest before the carving takes
place. These sea chests are not painted boxes or mass produced overseas
and sold as authentic sea chests. They are individually hand made
and hand carved here in my studio on Martha's Vineyard.
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Sea
Chests were traditionally built by sailors to transport and store
their possessions while aboard ship. They would hold naval instruments,
journals and clothing. Usually the sea chests were constructed out
of pine using dovetail joinery. This form of joinery was developed
in the early 1500's and is considered to be the strongest method
of building chests. In the 1700 and 1800's, old growth forests allowed
the milling of very wide boards so the sea chests were able to be
constructed without laminating the wood. The inside of the lids
on the old chests where usually painted with images of harbors,
whales, mermaids, even game boards.
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The
chests often were constructed with a sloping design to keep them from
being topheavy and also to save the sailor's shins in a seaway. The
handles or beckets made for the chests, by the sailors, represented
the highest level of marlinespike seamanship. During the heyday of
whaling, chests could be purchased from merchants fully outfitted.
The sea chests that I build and carve continue this early seafaring
tradition and heritage. They are constructed out of pine or mahogany
using very wide boards, eliminating the need for lamination. The dovetail
joinery I use assures a strongly built chest that will last for generations.
The top of the chest is attached with iron chest hinges. The hinges
are hand forged on Martha's Vineyard by Whit Hanska. They are reproduced
from original hinges found on the chests in the collection at the
New Bedford Whaling Museum. My wife, Francesca, makes the decorative
beckets out of cotton cord for the chests. Both mahogany and pine
chests are finished with multiple coats of high quality tung oil ,
making them extremely durable while creating a rich patina. The stains
for the pine sea chests are available in many color choices. You can
have the chests carved with a traditional maritime scene or a carving
of your choice. This could be your yacht club burgee, family crest,
your boat, the choices are endless.
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Some
of the options available on both mahogany and pine chests are glass
top, aromatic cedar lining and personal inscriptions. Every chest
is signed and dated. Every sea chest I make is heirloom quality
using quality workmanship, which will be enjoyed for years to come.
You can use the chest as a coffee table in your home or office,
seasonal storage for clothing, a special gift, aboard your boat,
or just about anywhere.
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| Blanket
Chests |
 A
blanket chest is a functional yet beautiful piece of furniture. It
can be used as a hope chest or to store linens throughout the different
seasons or even a coffee table . The chests that I make are the same
high quality as the sea chests. They are individually hand made and
hand carved. I use dovetail joinery and either wide sugar pine or
mahogany, eliminating the need for lamination. Both mahogany and pine
chests are finished with multiple coats of high quality tung oil,
making them extremely durable while creating a rich patina. The stains
for the pine chests are available in many color choices. The top of
the chest is attached with iron hinges. These hinges are hand forged
on Martha's Vineyard by Whit Hanska. The handles on the blanket chests
are traditional brass handles. Some of the options available on both
mahogany and pine chests are glass top, aromatic cedar lining, hand
made beckets and personal inscriptions. Every chest is signed and
dated.
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| Ditty
Boxes |
 While
sea chests were relatively common aboard ship and carried by most
sailors in the sea faring days, it is interesting that miniature chests
or ditty boxes were often used to hold ships' papers, sextant and
navigation aids. Many sea captains built ditty boxes for their personal
possessions including journals, pocket watches and letters. The boxes
were usually constructed from pine and used dovetail joinery. Often
the boxes were painted with maritime images. The ditty boxes that
I build and carve continue this seafaring tradition and heritage.
They are constructed out of sugar pine or mahogany using wide boards,
eliminating the need for lamination. The boxes are dovetailed and
hand carved. Both mahogany and pine boxes are finished with multiple
coats of high quality tung oil, making them extremely durable while
creating a rich patina. The stains for the pine boxes are available
in many color choices. The handles on the boxes are handmade cotton
cord grommets, also made by my wife Francesca. The top of the box
is attached with iron hinges. The hinges are hand forged on Martha's
Vineyard by Whit Hanska. Some of the options available on both mahogany
and pine boxes are velvet lining, aromatic cedar, locks and personal
inscriptions. Each box comes signed and dated. Because of the smaller
size of the traditional ditty box, it lends itself to different uses
than the sea chest or blanket chest. It can be handsomely displayed
on top of a desk to store important documents, on a dresser as a beautiful
jewelry box or to hold your ship papers. Ditty boxes can easily be
moved and carried around like a small piece of luggage. |
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