New Masters of the Wooden Box

Whether or not you are particularly enamoured with wooden boxes, go out and buy this book. Don't get sidetracked by the title, which might be a bit misleading. The book is not so much about wooden boxes per se, as it is on the work of craftspeople who also happen to made wooden boxes.

Many of the woodworkers featured in this book are highly regarded as furniture makers (Michael Cullen, Robert Ingham), wood turners (Richard Raffan, Michael Hosaluk) and sculptors (Jean-Christophe Couradin, Craig Nutt). The one thing that seems to unite this diverse collection of woodworkers is that they all appear to be shifters - shifting the boundaries of woodworking through innovative design and functional creativity. While you'll read about boxes, you'll learn about what inspires the makers and the unique techniques that they bring to their work. Take, for example, the 'Java Credenza' created by J.M. Syron and Bonnie Bishoff. A well designed piece that integrates polymer clay veneer in the place of wood veneer for the side panels. Or Tom Loeser's 'Roxane' band sawed, carved and painted rocking box.

This is an enjoyable book to read, and has beautifully photographed samples of the work. It's the kind of book to savour, like good music, time and time again.