WOODCARVING & ACCESSORIES

Wooden Jewelry Boxes: a Choice of Decorative Woods

When they are of good quality, wooden jewelry boxes have the potential of becoming heirlooms. They last a lifetime thanks to the strength they possess. Their facades can be decorated in many ways.

They can be done up with carving, some embellishments and even art forms like Marquetry. There are a number of woods that can be utilized in the making of jewelry boxes. One popular, locally available wood is Mahogany.

It is mainly used in the making of jewelry cases for its rot-resistant capabilities. When polished this wood has a great sheen to it. Craftsmen, amateur or professional, prefer Mahogany for the simple reason that it can be worked on with a variety of tools. It is largely used for the making of men’s valets since it exudes a masculine aura.

Ebony is easily sourced in the USA and is dark in color making jewelry boxes made from it possess a great depth. This wood is also quite dense and sinks when placed in water. This shows its strength and durability.

If your home decor is antique or classically styled then an ebony jewelry box will fit right in. There are may ways to carve the lids of these boxes. They can even be buffed differently giving it that vintage look.

The commonly used designs are stacked versions or those with pull drawers and removable trays. White Ash jewelry boxes are light in color. Craftsmen opt for this wood because it can be bent in many ways when steamed. This makes it the right wood to use for boxes that are curved or come in many shapes.

The weight to strength ratio of White Ash is balanced, making it strong. It does not have a distinctive odor of its own even though it is an open-pored wood. This wood is flexible while being strong and shock-resistant.

A number of jewelry boxes are made from Cherry wood. The heartwood of this tree ranges from light pink to a reddish brown and the sapwood is always lighter. Cherry wood of all kinds darkens with age enhancing its elegance. Thanks to its smooth texture, this is the perfect one to use if you want to carve on your box.

There are several finishes it will show off well, but the best are the natural ones. Cherry wood boxes that have been designed traditionally can be highlighted with brass accents while the more modernistic versions can be done in silver. Gum streaks are best used to highlight cherry wood boxes.

The lightest of wood boxes are those made of Maple wood. Occasionally White Maple is bleached before it is polished, making it lighter. Decorative objects are made of curly and bird’s eye Maple.

It is unfortunate though that Maple is a single growth tree. What will happen is that when its supply is exhausted, its prices are going to skyrocket, matching other rare trees.

This article was written by Ruth D’Souza Prabhu of MarqART Gift Shop. Our jewelry boxes feature evocative marqart wood design, created from unique wood grain patterns and colors. A fine addition to your dressing table or as a gift. Please visit http://www.marqartgiftshop.com to browse & buy exotic jewelry boxes that will give you a lifetime of pleasure!
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