Plumwood Altar

I have long admired the work of James Krenov, a remarkable woodworker, now passed. This cabinet is something of an homage to his style.

This altar was created using veneer I cut from plumwood logs acquired more than twenty years ago. Sometimes, the perfect application for a piece of wood is not at first apparent. When this design came to mind, I considered how best to highlight the doors, the main feature of the carcase, and the logs of plumwood came to mind. Cutting thin flitches of the wood and then bookmatching them, I was able to create this striking pattern highlighting the beautiful grain.

The drawers are intended to be pulled out and used as shelves in order to place objects such as incense and flowers to the fore of whatever icon or image is in the main cabinet space. Each drawer has a lid that allows it to serve double duty as both storage and display space.

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