Sewing Chest
An antique chest repaired with ash, cherry, sapele, walnut, paint and glass
Owner: Eleanor Suggett Stephens
Repaired by: Rio Kobayashi in London, 2022
When the owner inherited this 18th Century sewing chest from her grandmother, she discovered it contained sketches and watercolours which no one knew she had made.
Eleanor’s Grandma and a drawing that was discovered in the sewing chest. Image Courtesy of Eleanor Suggett Stephens.
Story
Eleanor explained: “My grandmother was from a generation of women who lived very formally, and she didn't tend to speak about her passions. After her passing, I learnt she wanted to become an artist, but that this dream was halted when she had to become the family bread winner in her teens. This piece of furniture represents that creative dream which never happened for her and reminds me how fortunate I am to have a career in the arts.”
Repair
Maker and designer Rio Kobayashi opened up the chest to form a tabletop, comparing the transformation to a flower blooming. The traditional Japanese joinery techniques used to raise the feet rely on a combination of intricate joints and wooden pegs that dispense with the need for glue or nails. The recess in the centre is intended to display the original sketches.
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