Deco-esque box

This box grew out of the single idea of a flip-top box with the “handle” based on a 45° cut in a single piece of additional wood standing proud of the carcass. Hard to describe but you can see it in the pictures.
I found the piece of “brown” wood (together with 2 of his brothers) in a skip – something mahogany like, I guess – and his size determined the size of the whole thing.

Once I’d routed out the slot using this (probably dodgy) technique…

... I reached for a hand-saw, yes, you heard me, a hand-saw, to cut the right angles. Of course, it took me a while to find such a tool, since I almost never use one. I worried for a while about how i was going to cut it to exactly the right size, until I realised that I actually didn’t have to! As long as the angle was right, it would slide into place. Cunning plan or what. Anyways – I slid it into place and it seemed interesting that it extended beyond the bottom and top, so I left that – I figured I could always remove it later, but, at trial fit time, I thought it came out OK so it stayed.
I cut the 45° in the composite piece, then took the 45° down from the non-top piece using my magic jig. The same jig got me the 45° on the bit sticking out of the back.
I usually go for 6mm metal hinge prongs, but I went for 3mm this time – hacking up a nail for the 2 prongs.

I guess that’s about all. I spent a long time on this, and I think it shows – at the moment I’m pleased with it.
I put a very slight taper on the ash sides where they join the oak. In theory I think that ought to have been OK, but I’m not sure it doesn’t look like it just doesn’t fit properly.

SWMBO’s verdict – “that’s kind of stylish” – in my book that’s a Result with a capital “R”!

Ash, fumed oak, ?mahogany?. Tung oil finish. 13cm x 14 cm x 8cm

All comments welcome.

-- "Do not speak – unless it improves on silence."