Wedding Treasure Box

Weddings generate lots of emotional investment. Minute details become important. To make something for  a wedding is to buy shares in loaded scrutiny.

Here is my response to a request for a box to take cards at a wedding.

The brief was relatively open; it sought a white container with a slot for posting cards in its front.

Taking on the form of a treasure chest is a nod to precious good wishes that the box will hold. But the metaphor of a treasure chest breaks down with the fascism of studs and steel, so this box is woven together with soft threads.

It was my grandmother who exposed me to the idea of weaving a box together. She would save pretty greeting cards, punch holes along their edges and crochet beautiful seams. My lacing along the edges of this little chest is pale beside the delicacy of her wonderful handwork.

This box is made from scrap marine ply; cheap cans of spray paint turned it white. Lacing it together takes longer than glue and nails, and it is hard on your hands and fingers as you draw the threads tight.

There are many of these laced boxes in my past. It is enormous fun to play with colour. While making it was difficult to hold in the desire for colourful decoration but wedding protocol requires unquestioned deference  to monotone!

Imagine this box lined with a wild fabric. Boxes I have made like that have always drawn a gasp of happy surprise when opened. But the white is interesting for it makes the box and its unusual construction the centre of attention. There is no colour to hide mistakes.