The Artificer's Workbench
The Artificer was a skilled craftsman and artisan in the military. The term covered a wide variety of crafts and skills. While I am primarily a woodworker, I have years of experience in metalsmithing, leatherwork, knotwork and other crafts.
The design for the sea chests and jewelry boxes that I build is closely based on 9th century artifact called the Osberg box. It was found in a Viking longship that was in a burial mound on the Osberg farm in Norway. One of the curators of the Lofotr Viking Ship Museum put plans for the box on the Internet. The Osberg box was originally designed to hold one of the sailor’s personal possessions and doubled as his rowing bench.
Using the same dimensions, angles and proportions from these plans, I designed and constructed my Sea chest. I then scaled the plans up to make the Blanket Chest size and down to make the Treasure Chest size. As a woodworker and a lover of history, what I find interesting is that the angles of the four sides of the Osberg box are the same as the angles on sea chests designed and built in the 18th century. (9 centuries later) As my grandfather used to say, “if it ain't broke don't fix it”
Please explore my Facebook page and see more. Custom orders are available.