Welcome box enthusiasts!
All the boxes available here are handmade only by me. I begin by collecting logs of native sassafras, red cedar, hackberry, cherry, and black walnut. I made a conscious decision long ago not to use any exotic species. The materials I use come from my own wood lot or from storm damaged trees in the area in which I live. I cut a slice from the log, and this cross-section is then cut on the band saw into a freeform and abstract shaped box with one or more functional compartments. Each piece has a solid back and has a special push-button mechanism for opening the box's drawers. And, of course, they always have at least one secret compartment. They are lined and finished with a clear “Danish Oil” type finish that gives each piece a soft, very touchable surface.
My background in botany has influenced the design of my work: many of the abstract shapes and designs are reminiscent of plant cell organelles. I also inject my own sense of humor into the themes of many of my boxes. Some resemble fish or birds. Some have symbols hidden in the designs, and others are inspired by music, architecture, literature, folk tales, and the works of the masters.
If you would like to view a sampling of some of the thousands of boxes I have made over the past thirty two years, go to the archive page at www.stevenmartinboxes.com. I welcome your comments and would be happy to design and make specially commissioned boxes.
Steven Martin
Southern Illinois,