Assembly complete

That says it all, everything is cut, glued, put together and largely finished, just some tweaking, and a few more coats of finish, glass and suede and this one is out the door.

There is that lid. Soss invisible hinges are used so when closed there are no obstructions. 

Now the back

After returning from the Buyers Market in Philadelphia I found the solid piece of wood for the fixed portion of the lid warped beyond use- since it is the same board as the back live edge section of the hinged part I just couldn't use another piece. Sticky situation. I needed that board. So I had to make plywood out of it. That will teach it.

First I had to slice the warped piece into veneers, one for the back of the sheet and one for the front to balance out the stresses in the wood. 

Stable as can be, and flat to boot. 

The frame is dyed and ready to be glued up. 

Top it off

After working my way up from the very bottom all that is left is a lid. The end table was first in line, for whatever reason, maybe to build confidence as the designs do not cross over enough for it to be a proving ground. 

The lid for the end table was designed in two parts, a front part that is hinged and holds glass to view the fossil through and a fixed back part to allow it to act as a table even with the lid up. 

First the hinged front. 

Parts are cut and mocked up, this is how it will go together.

Details of joinery involved. The pieces of live edge maple in the front two corners of the lid reinforce it allowing the rest of the lid to be more delicate. 

Glue ups continue to be an adventure.

Once glued a cove is routed into the maple burl perimeter, echoing the cove molding at the bottom of the case. 

Bottoms!

Here they are two complete bottoms. I have started the top of the side table and will be posting it soon.