Supplying the office: To put your stamp on things...

Hello my friends,

Can you upcycle an already perfect miniature? Perhaps not. Or at least the word upcycling is probably wrong in this context. So let us simply call it personalising.

Sun of Nalladris added a box with sealing wax and a stamp and all that is further required for sealing letters with wax to her webshop. I immediately fell in love with it.

Moreover the box comes with a tiny personalised lasercut monogram in silver stuck on the lid. The same monogram (but even smaller) is etched into the sealing stamp. I find that só cool so I wanted to have one of those boxes. I happen to know Sun from the miniatures fairs in Arnhem so I called her up asking to buy one of those boxes. 

We had a lovely chat about miniatures in general when I told here that I (the idea had just sprouted in my mind that same minute) that I would want to try to decorate the box with some tiny chinoiserie scenes. She loved the idea but told me that for that it would be much simpler if she would leave the box unfinished and just provided all the elements. That way I could decorate them and put the box together just the way I wanted.

So now I was left with actualy decorating the box myself. Me and my big mouth! :-D

When it arrived I was thrilled. Every piece is so tiny! As a little gift she added two more stamps saying that in the office or library of Huis ter Swinnendael there would always be a place for a couple more. If you read this, thank you again, Sun!

It was time to get to work. I painted the outside bright red and the inside light blue. It needed a few thin coats before the woodstain stopped shining through. I lightly sanded the outside to smoothen the surface.

I have collected various pictures of japanned furniture. I used them to find a few scenes to recreate on the box. I had to leave some room for the monogram.

First I painted some basic forms in black and let that dry. Then I added gold paint on top of that to add details. The black that remains vissible adds some shadows and depth to the tiny pictures. I added scenes on every side of the box. When those were finished and dry, I glued the silver monogram in place. 

I also painted the handles of the stamps and the mini crucible to melt the sealing wax in the same red or blue. I decorated the handles with a simple gold flourish. Then I varnished each peace inside and out with glossy varnish to give it a proper lacquered appearance.

When that was done I added the hinges on the box and lid, as well as the tiny tiny brass bead on the drawer for storing the sealing wax. It took me a few days to get to this stage, but I really like how it turned out. I hope that you do too!

This box could go into sir Zonneschut's library but it will get pride of place on the desk of the steward in his office.