This is probably the most complex piece I've made to date. It's a reliquary, meaning it has a hidden container inside that can hold a precious object, or "relic", but that hidden container is also a cryptex. Think "da Vinci Code". The small turned element with the brass finial visible through the opening in the ebony turning on the underside is actually attached to the cryptex. When you romove the top, the cryptex with the attached pieces comes out as well. The next photo shows some of the details.
The cryptex is opened by turning the 4 rings with the letters (dry transfers) until they line up properly, spelling out the password. In this case, it's "open me" on 2 adjacent lines. Not too clever a password, but it works.
Making the cryptex itself wasn't terribly difficult, but getting all the parts sized right and lined up correctly was the real challenge.
The eucalyptus burl main vessel is suspended from the frame with black pins.
The piece is 19"Hx10"x10". It's made of eucalyptus burl, ebony, Indian rosewood, and maple.
Comments and questions welcome.
