Each box is a one - of - a kind piece and is available on a first come basis.
If you see something you like today, buy it now for it may be gone tomorrow.
This custom “One of a Kind” Keepsake box is made from (one, face and back) Pau Amerillo, a wood from Mexico. This wood is naturally “Yellow” in color and ranges from a light yellow to a lemon yellow. This wood is fun to turn and takes a good finish. Most people have never seen this wood and think its dyed and (two, the ends) Chakte-vega, a wood from Mexico and is naturally Red in color and is very dense. This wood is sometimes called “Bloodwood or Cardinal wood”. This wood has a sweet smell when machining, and is a great wood to “turn” on the lathe. The black inlay in the face of the box is MACASSAR EBONY (Diospyros celebica) is one of a group of ebonies from the East Indies, ranging from Sri Lanka to Indonesia. This close- grained, heavy hardwood machines and turns well, but tends to dull tools and is difficult to glue. Used for turned and carved items, wall paneling, inlays, and contemporary furniture. This wood is so expensive, that they sell it by the pound.The top is made from Bocote, (Cordia elaeagnoides) also called Mexican or Mayan Rosewood, this attractive wood is a product of Central and northern South America. This wood is very hard and dense with a distinctive striped-to-flowered grain. This wood has streaks of Gold, Yellow and Black running thru it. Bocote is a wonderful wood to work with and has a fantastic grain pattern and finishes very well. In recent years, Bocote has become one of the most expensive woods that I work with. Nothing matches its “grain Pattern” for beauty. Available lumber is short and generally narrow. A unique "One-of-a-Kind" Keepsake box signed and dated. Each Keepsake box gets 6 to 8 coats of polyurethane oil finish that is "Hand Rubbed" to give them the best finish possible.
Size is approx. 7 x 10 x 3.5 inches
Designed & Handcrafted by: Charles T.
Every item is made one at a time. The craftsmanship is more important than the cost..... what you buy today reflects your appreciation of quality and value for a life time.
Charles T. says; "No matter if you are buying an $800.00 dollar Humidor or a $29.00 dollar Keepsake Box, all are built to the same Quality Standards. I am an Antique Dealer. I buy, repair and sale High-end Antiques. I am a "one man shop", and as such, can control the Quality of every thing that comes out of my shop. About six years ago I made my first Humidor for a friend. He wound up with four. By word of mouth I was soon covered up with orders. I started doing High-end Arts/Crafts show as a way to market my product. I added Jewelry Boxes and various other types of keepsake boxes. I make custom Pens, Perfume Pens, Magnifying glasses, wooden Business Card Holders, Letter openers, Atomizers and some small wood turnings. I do about twenty shows a year. About 75% of my work is custom orders.
Every thing I make gets a "Hand Rubbed Oil Finish". Between 5 to 8 coats. This is a blend of five oils that provides the best finish possible. The finish was developed for the marine environment. The base is polyurethane. This is the same finish I use on my fine Antiques. I developed the finish while I was Quality Assurance Manager with Hatteras Yachts. That was between 1965 to 1988."
