These Demilune chests are made of African mahogany with satinwood inlay. Demilune is a word of French origin meaning ‘half-moon’.
Each chest has three dovetailed drawers. The brass drawer pulls are from White Chapel Hardware. The tabletop, curved panels, and drawer fronts, feature grain-matched crotch mahogany. The crotch grain pattern occurs within a tree trunk where the trunk splits in two. The sequential veneers used for these chests are carefully aligned for a beautiful symmetrical effect.
The finishing recipe for this project began with an alcohol-based aniline dye to enhance the mahogany’s natural colors. It continued with a coat of General Finishes Seal-a-Cell, and then multiple coats of General Finishes Gloss Arm-R-Seal. Each coat of gloss Arm-R-Seal was sanded to remove imperfections as the finish thickness built. Once the pores were suitably filled, a final coat of Satin Arm-R-Seal was applied for the desired sheen. A buffed coat of furniture paste wax added a nice glow.
This pair of Demilunes graces the foyer of a magnificent Virginia home.
