Guide to Handcrafted Jewelry Boxes

In the world of fine woodworking, jewelry boxes are the equivalent of faberge eggs in terms of the amount of time and care that go into such a small object. For woodworkers who like a challenge, but want to pour their efforts into something more delicate than, say, a cabinet, womens jewelry boxes have proven to be a project that is demanding yet can yield finished works of great intricacy and beauty. The many hours of labor plus fine and/or rare materials that go into making such a wooden jewelry box are what makes it seem so expensive (although this also applies to leather jewelry boxes). But those who see and touch such a box just may find themselves enchanted by its quality and the painstaking work that went into its creation. Especially in our world of mass-produced, disposable goods (more accurately termed 'bads'?), we have a thirst for such finely crafted objects where the artist has created something with soul. This hub discusses the many jewelry boxes on the market today, from the cheap to the exquisite.  To go against the "save the best for last" mentality, we will discuss those jewelry boxes that are the results of careful planning, thoughful selection of materials, and meticulous hand work.  If you know what goes into the creation of one of these small masterpieces, you will better understand the prices charged.  Indeed, they may even seem inexpensive after you learn of the process and materials. 

Fine hardwoods are selected for the best boxes.  The design of the box may dictate the woods chosen, and vice versa.  Often a woodworker will have a leftover piece of precious wood from a larger project and will wish to honor the wood by using as much of it as he can, minimizing the scrap.  In this case, the wood's characteristics, and perhaps more importantly its mood, will dictate whether the box will be graceful with simple lines, or more complicated or ornate.  If the woodworker has a design in mind, he will proceed to choose the wood in a similar way by asking what is most appropriate for the design.  Does he wish to create a rustic looking piece?  Something more contemporary?  Perhaps something more rich-looking, utilizing a wood with curly grain?  Not only that, but contrasting woods can and often are used to highlight various aspects of the jewelry box.  This wood must not only complement the box visually, but perhaps also in texture.  The woodworker will take all these factors into account with a vision of what the finished work will look like.  If he knows what he is doing, the end product will be the marriage of natural materials, an eye for design, and skill. 

Once the design and wood have been decided on, the work begins.  First, the wood must be milled, meaning it is cut to size.  But usually the wood will be cut slightly larger than the final size in order to allow it to season- the hidden stresses in the wood cause it to move, resulting in warping.  There must be enough extra wood to account for this so that the final dimensions can be cut out of wood which should be far more stable.  After this stage is reached, which can take a few days to a few weeks, the wood can be milled to its proper dimensions.  The design can then be laid out on on the pieces of wood that will be assembled to create the box, then the wood is cut to yield the individual parts which are to be assembled into a box.  Joints may range from simple butt joints reinforced with nails or screws to intricate dovetails which, made with skill, should last a lifetime and beyond.  At some point, if there are to be inlays, these are obtained or cut from a diverse range of materials such as mother-of-pearl, stone, other wood, or any other material that suits the purpose.  Hardware must be purchased, or made from wood.  Some will even forge their own out of iron.  Often, pulls will be made from a darker, denser wood which will be longer lasting and continue to look clean after years of handling.  Due to the small size of wooden jewelry boxes, what is usually the most time consuming and labor intensive step of the process-finishing-often happens before assembly.  Finishing involves planing, which involves keeping your plane well-tuned and the blade sharp (sharpening is another art of its own).  Once the wood has been carefully planed to a mirror finish, the woodworker brings out the sandpaper to make it even finer.  He or she will then select a finish, preferably a natural finish, to bring out the grain of the wood while protecting the box.  The finish will then be allowed to dry.  Oil finishes without dryers take the longest to dry, up to several weeks to truly dry.  However, an oil finish lets you actually touch the wood in contrast to urethane finishes which dry in a few hours but form a kind of plastic barrier over the wood. 

Keep all this in mind when look at jewelry boxes for women or men.  That way, you will not have a knee-jerk reflex to reject a box based on what seems like a high price.  It may be made of a rare or exotic wood (which may or may not be sustainably harvested- it's best to ask and/or research), or the hardware (hinges, mounts, etc.) may be of very high quality.  Understanding these things does not mean you will buy the box, necessarily, they will just give you a greater appreciation for the work and thought that went into the item.  A little knowledge will be of great assistance in choosing a box, whether you are looking for a lower priced box that is simply made or a one-of-a-kind work of art.