15 1/2" x 22" x 61"

Gonçalo alves, soft maple veneers on Baltic plywood, African Blackwood and Tennessee red cedar. Oil and wax finish on stand, shellac on panels.

This piece is my interpretation of James Krenov’s “A Playful Thing” from his book “The Impractical Cabinetmaker,” made using the same techniques as the original.

The dovetailed drawers pass through to both sides, and the top “showcase” space includes a dovetailed plinth, for displaying smaller objects.

The side panels are “recorded” (sequential slip-matched) veneers from a beautiful piece of figured soft maple, finished with hand-rubbed shellac.

The side-hung drawers require a particular dovetail layout and a precision in fabrication. The pulls were carved by hand with a knife from African blackwood.

The carcase of the piece is made with mortise and tenon joints, which give a strength to this otherwise delicate form. The negative space in this piece is as important as the solid forms.

Like many of Krenov’s pieces, this cabinet is as much a showcase of fine wood as it is an elegant form. Here, the display shelf shows some beautiful ray fleck in the figured maple veneers.

Small details make this piece what it is – like here, the small chamfer on the interior arris of the posts leaves a detail to be found when observed by the eye and explored by the hand.