A Curiosity Cabinet For All Seasons

Professor Richard Fortey and Jackie Fortey tell the story of twelve months in the life of their woodland at Grim’s Dyke in their book 

Wood for the Trees

The Long View of Nature from a Small Wood to be published 5 May 2016.

The story begins with a visit to my workshop in May 2013. The Forteys wanted to discuss the possibility of designing a curiosity cabinet. The cabinet was to house the collection of found objects in their woodland and to be made from cherry wood from the woodland.

We chose a mature tree suitable for felling and after Martin Drew, a local timber contractor, converted it to planks we started the air-drying process at my workshop for over a year, followed by drying in my kiln. 

In July of this year I began making the cabinet; the photos below show some of the work in progress. 

The finished cabinet was delivered on 12 November to the Forteys' home. On the way there I took it to the woodland where Robert Francis photographed it where once the actual cherry tree had stood (photos to follow).  

I’m delighted to give you early notice that Professor Fortey has agreed to give a talk at my workshop during Oxfordshire Artweeks in May 2016 (details of date and time to follow nearer the time). 

For more information of the forthcoming book, click here 

Wood for the Trees

The Long View of Nature from a Small Wood