Details
- Maker•Josephine Jelicich
- Medium•Wood
- Origin•Aotearoa
- Made In•Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland
- Composition•French Oak, Ebonised with steel wool, vinegar & black tea.
- Dimensions•H30 x W50 x D223mm
Description
Band sawn from a single block of French oak, this lidded keepsake box reflects Josephine’s patient, material led approach to woodworking. The form was first developed while working with limited machinery at the Karekare House residency in 2022, embracing simplicity and restraint and allowing proportion, surface and touch to take focus.
The oak has been ebonised using a traditional process of steel wool, vinegar and black tea, deepening the grain and giving the box a soft, matte black finish. Hand carved grooves trace the edge of the lid, while fine carved lines along the base introduce a tactile detail. The lid insert is formed from the inner cut of the same block of wood, reinforcing the integrity of the form.
Designed as a keepsake box, it is well suited to storing jewellery, incense, pens and pencils, or other small treasures on a desk or shelf or tabletop. Each piece is made entirely from one block of timber and finished by hand, resulting in natural variations in grain, tone and texture.
Care
Ebonised finish is colourfast. Avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight. Clean gently with a dry, soft paintbrush. Wipe with a lightly damp cloth if needed and dry immediately.
Shipping
Please refer to our shipping page for rates and delivery time frames.
Celebrating the discipline of fine woodworking through thoughtful, hand-crafted design.
Josephine Jelicich is an Auckland-based furniture maker and woodworker whose practice centres on material understanding, traditional joinery and careful handwork. After studying at art school at Massey University in Wellington, she found herself drawn away from more conceptual work and towards practical, hands-on making, ultimately finding her calling in furniture and woodwork. This led her to complete the full-time Furniture Makers' Programme at the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson in 2018. Since then, Josephine has built a practice focused on bespoke commissions and her own considered designs, working primarily with solid timber and time-honoured techniques. Her approach values patience and problem-solving, allowing the making process to unfold slowly, with close attention to detail, proportion and the natural character of the wood.