"Once
the braid is broken, the box will open" -Kagen
The above poem is a clue Kagen gave to us to help solve his Braided Box, one of which is
pictured to the left (#15). This elegant box is the sequel to his Decorated Box.
Just like the Decorated Box, this box has a utilitarian design - you can use it to keep
things in that you need to access frequently. It takes only 1 move to open it, so
it’s perfect as a desk accessory. But, people who don’t know the move will not
be able to open this box. The move is very creative and tricky.The box
itself is made from walnut and maple hardwoods. No metal was used in any way. Even the
“pivot riser” hinges are wooden, and were designed and handmade by Kagen.
Although it is
the sequel to The Decorated Box, The Braided Box has many differences. When asked about
the variations in his design of the Braided Box vs. The Decorated Box, Kagen said,
"The braided box has a thinner wedge braid, as opposed to the thick
walnut braid from the previous. I felt the walnut braid was too thick for the smallness of
the box and also needed to be darker to offset the walnut.
The Braided boxes have a solid maple panel in the bottom and top. This is all mitered
perfectly and even has hidden walnut splines bracing the corners. The theory behind this
is that the wood can swell and contract with humidity the most throughout the middle of
the panel while being firmly attached at the corners to the walls of the box. A recess is
even built into the box so the maple can expand freely at the midsections.
It is my own design of a floating panel that stays fixed. The original decorated box has a
walnut panel for the top and bottom rather than maple and does not have splines in these
panels.
The new Braided box also has concealed splines in the miters around the sides of the box.
There are eight separate splines - one for the top and one for the bottom on each miter.
This makes the box practically indestructible. The original decorated boxes do not have
this joinery. Overall the finish technique has changed too.
The latches are made from maple, where they were walnut before.
I have added a very carefully buffed layer of paste wax over two layers of a tung oil,
wax, and polyurethane blend finish. The original decorated box has a blended tung oil and
wax finish without any final paste wax overcoat."
Kagen finishes each Braided Box by hand. He sand smooth the walnut to a 220 grit
and the maple to a 400 grit finish, and later burnish it with shreds of maple wood. This
renders the shine the Kagen's work is known for.
To see this box opened, click here - then use your browser’s
”Back” button to return to this page.
Each Braided Box is numbered by Kagen, and bears his signature brand mark
on the inside of the lid. A glossy, color solution booklet and a Certificate of
Authenticity are provided with each box.
