a railroad tie
There’s a story worth sharing about this wood. The frame (legs and stretchers) are cherry, but the figured wood on the faces is ebony, and not just any ebony. This wood came from a 300LB railroad tie. This tie had been laying on the jungle floor in Nigeria for over 100 years. When the trees were originally cut (native trees conveniently nearby the railroad line), they were 500 years old, so this wood is over 600 years old. Ebony can be pitch black throughout or a mix of sapwood and heartwood (dark) and this piece was a beautiful mix of both and each time I’d slice off a piece the pattern would change. I’ve never worked with wood so surprising and inspiring. It also happens to be one of the hardest woods on the planet, so very unforgiving as well.
300LB Ebony Railroad tie from Nigeria
Original sketch
The beginnings of a drawer pull using a bridal joint
And a world of beautiful figuring inside
Original cardboard mockup of the Mailbox design
