Norwegian Linen Chest

This small linen chest can be made in batches, and the lid presents some fun challenges during the process.

- Logan Wittmer

Inspiration for a project can come from anywhere. Take this linen chest for example. I was recently visiting a friend of mine at his home a few hours away. Norman, who you may recall me talking about in an editor letter a few issues back, was showing me a few of the projects that he had built over the years. A small dome-topped box caught my eye.

1 A pattern block gives all the info needed to make the top at a later date. Length, bevel angle, and width are all shown.

As it turns out, Norman's great grandmother had brought the original trunk with her from Norway. As the story goes, this trunk was called a "kerchief" box, or a box for handkerchiefs.

2-3 An angle gauge accurately sets the blade angle.

Norman had a feeling that his grandmother's chest would be passed down to one of the ladies in the family, so he did what any self-respecting patternmaker would do he built his own based on the original. Over his working career, Norman built dozens of these chests to either sell at craft fairs, or to give away as gifts.

4-5 The top can be glued along the beveled edge. A pair of cauls on top with some weight hold the pieces in place as the glue cures. The gluing sled with cleats keep the parts from sliding apart.

When I mentioned that I thought it would make a great little magazine project, Norman graciously loaded me up with all of the patterns and jigs that he had accumulated over the years associated with this project.

6 Transfer the lid profile onto both ends of the lid blank.

A Domed Top

Looking at this little trunk project, it looks deceivingly simple. The main trunk is simply butt joints and brad nails. The bottom is nailed in place, and has an elegant little profile on it. The complexity of this project is wrapped up in the top.