Walnut and Sapele Blanket Chest

This is a walnut frame and sapele veneered panel I made for my wife’s cousin. The tray and bottom are made of unfinished aromatic red cedar. The panels are plywood with sapele veneer; I veneered up the large panel and cut the three smaller panels from it for grain continuity. Loose tenon joinery throughout. All walnut parts are 1” thick. It’s quite a robust chest. I installed torsion hinges from Rockler to eliminate the need for some sort of lid stay; they allow the top to stay open at any angle much like a laptop screen. Finish is tung oil and wax.

-- Dominic P.- Duxbury MA