Terry Pratchett Luggage Chest
This commission was a privilege to be involved in.
The brief was to make a life size piece, ‘The Luggage’, a character from Terry Pratchett’s book, The Colour of Magic. The Luggage would then be filled with bespoke jewellery for presentation at the Memorial Service for Sir Terry Prachett, which was held at the Barbican Theatre, London. The jewellery was designed for the family and the new ‘The Venerable order of the Honey Bee’.
I enjoyed making this chest and believe it has a character of its own, especially when it smiles. The favourite parts to make were the mechanical moving parts, such as the independent jaw that locates in several positions in one fluid motion, and the tray, which is controlled by a specially designed rivet that when turned protrudes a locking bar.
In the fantasy books, the chest is supposed to be made from sapient pear wood, so I thought it was appropriate to finish the chest in pear beeswax. My friends have beehives, and the bees feed on the pear trees across the river. Perfect, so I melted it down and made my own pear wood wax for authenticity.
The inside of the chest has a network of programmed lights, which when turned on gives the appearance of a moving waterfall and an infinity base. Integrating these special effects summon up the magic of Discworld.