I think that both pieces entered in the advanced category are stunning.
Tim's bookcase (and all the others he made for the customer) is just so right. It's a very good example of how you can sometimes use modern materials and methods and a striking colour and put the piece in a setting from a different era, and it looks good.
It must sometimes be very difficult for the professional woodworker to interpret what the customer wants and to produce a finished piece that meets all the customer's needs and looks good. Tim has certainly done that with his bookcases - I would have been very proud to have made them.
Rob's casket is something totally different. It is an example of the cabinet maker's skills at their finest. I was fortunate to see this piece at various stages during it's construction. It is, perhaps, unfortunate that the best bit (the secret mitre dovetails) will never be seen. Some might ask why bother doing it that way? I would say why not. Rob is a perfectionist and I think it's good that woodworkers like him use joints like that because it's the right way to do it - I wish I had the skill.
There are details in Rob's casket that have to be seen and felt in order truly to appreciate them. The curvature of the sides; the slight change he made to the shape of the corners; and the small handle. It is a very tactile piece.
Rob not only made the casket but he made the plane with which to shape the curved sides. In my view that plane, had it been entered separately in the competition, would have stood a good chance of winning. Suffice to say, it's made to the same standard as the casket.
Two stunning pieces. But for me the winner has to be Rob for the superb cabinet making skills involved in making his casket.
Cheers :wink:
Paul
/ They always have good stuff in that magazine 8) 8) 
