36 Hour Classes
INSTRUCTOR: Ursula Dyrbye-Skovsted, Artisan
COURSE: Woodworking
PROJECT: Burl Wood Desk Set with Ebony & Ivory
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This decorative desk set from about 1920 is a must on any fine gentleman or lady's desk. It is made from burl wood and decorated with ebony and ivory trimming and silver accents. The set contains a lidded, doubled ivory ink well with ivory ink containers; a stamp or pen tray with an operational perpetual calender on top of the hinged lid; a compartment with a hidden blotter with ink paper; and a ivory pen “stopper.” This very elaborate desk set is small—less than 1 ½" long—but very complex with lots of fine details.
Students will build this highly intricate desk set from exotic burl wood using a variety of tools. They will learn how to veneer and trim with ivory and ebony strips and to make hidden hinged lids on two compartments. The working perpetual calender is turned on a lathe with the individually rotating drums showing through windows. The blotter is turned and cut from hardwood and fitted to the lid with blotter paper. The ivory and ebony details—like the blotter knob, lid knobs, pen stopper, inkwells, and raiser for calendar—are first turned and then fitted with joints. The finished desk set is lacquered to a silky shine. Students will learn to forge the different silver accents in special made steel dies; then learn to file, clean, and age them. After assembly, the different decorative accents are attached.
Techniques to be taught include: cutting and shaping burl wood, wood joinery, hidden hinge making, ivory/ebony veneering and turning, soft silver forging, aging and polishing, traditional wood polishing, and attachment of tiny accents. Students will use specially made jigs and dies provided by the teacher. Some parts might be pre-made due to class time. This is a highly demanding class with a lot of fun techniques. The methods used in class can be transferred to future miniature work.
TIME: 36 hours. Completion is likely.
POWER TOOLS: table saw, lathe, drill press, shaper, moto tool, flex shaft
SKILL LEVEL: Intermediate and advanced. This is an aggressive class with a lot of techniques. Good handeye coordination is crucial for finishing the project. The biggest challenge in this class is the handling of the tiny parts during work. Some skill in working with small size wood and metal and some experience with power tools is recommended.
MATERIALS FEE: $95 to be collected at school. Due to strict regulations on ivory the use of other types of tooth or bone may be necessary.