Miniature Cedar Chest of Drawers, 1997

Miniature Cedar Chest of Drawers, 1997 2011/81

Logging This miniature chest of draws is made from Red Cedar. When European colonists first occupied Australia ancient forests of Red Cedar grew on the continent’s east coast. These forests were destroyed for their desirable timber that the colonists called ‘Red Gold’. By the early 20th century Red Cedar had been logged to the point of commercial extinction. Cedar This miniature chest of draws is made of Toona ciliata, a forest tree in the mahogany family. Commonly known as Red Cedar, this species can grow to be 60 metres tall. It is found throughout southern Asia, from Afghanistan to Australia. Toona ciliata reproduces by seed and grows best in subtropical and tropical environments. Furniture This is a 1:3 scale model of a chest of drawers made in Tasmania during the 1840s. Colonial era Australian cabinetmakers combined designs inspired by European catalogues with locally sourced timbers like Huon Pine and Red Cedar. Whilst highly sort after today, Colonial Australians considered imported furniture more fashionable than locally produced products. Hobby Arthur Bignell made this piece using timber salvaged from a home damaged by the 1955 Maitland flood. He purchased the skirting boards of a 19th century home slated for demolition and waited almost 40 years to create this miniature chest of drawers. Arthur copied the design from a photograph and used Red Cedar, Huon Pine and Ivory to make it.