David W. Crothers ~ Custom Woodcarving Artisan

The time required to create a plate or box with a custom design varies not only with its complexity, but also my workload.

Price is based on a number of factors which include the design time, the amount and complexity of carving, and the size of the plate or type of the box selected. (See Box styles and sizes) All plates and boxes are individually quoted upon idea exchanges between the purchaser and me concerning the choice of the design elements and selection of plate or box style and size.

Some "food for thought" from the artisan:

Custom Carved Plates versus Custom Carved Boxes

Custom carved plates to commemorate a special occasion or simply add elegance to the décor of a room (in the case of a decorative plate) are a consideration often overlooked or simply not initially envisioned due to the relative rarity of their creation. A plate has some distinct advantages that a box does not enjoy. While a box has the ability to house treasured objects, it is usually of such a personal nature that it is normally displayed in one's private living spaces where its contents are not subject to the scrutiny of people other than the owner.

The custom or decorative plate on the other hand is generally displayed in a location of prominence in the home or office with the specific intention that it serve as a focal point and is enjoyed by all occupants and visitors. The custom plate has the advantage of multiple display possibilities. For example, it can lay flat on a piece of furniture, be placed upon a shelf or piece of furniture on a plate stand or easel, or mounted directly on a wall. The display height of the plate is also not limited, whereas a box is generally relegated to the lower portions of a room to enable access to its contents. Lastly, while the carving complexity and design intricacy of the custom plate is certainly on a par with the custom box, the plate is considerably less expensive than a custom box since it is less complex to construct and only one carved surface requires attention. The plate can proudly mark a milestone in someone's life, proclaim an inspirational thought or quote dear to someone's heart, or accent the décor of a room in a manner not attainable by most other means.

Plate motifs range from unique custom designs developed to mark a specific event or enhance an inspirational quote to historic designs created to accent or blend in with a room setting.

Creating Your Uniquely Designed Commemorative Heirloom

My experience has been that when a client wants a special item carved to fit an occasion unique to them, they often have difficulty translating their desire into a design. This should not be a deterrent to inquiring about having a plate or box created. You know more than you think you do about what you want to evoke from the carving. The difficulty usually revolves around creating a focal point for the design.

I try to overcome the uncertainty by asking the purchaser questions such as -- who is the recipient?; what is their relationship to you?; what occasion is being celebrated?; what are the likes and dislikes of the recipient?; where will the plate or box be displayed?; in the case of a box what is it likely to contain?; etc. I can usually suggest a starting point for the design based on the resulting dialogue.

(If the above questions sound similar to the ideas contained in the Provenance that I write, it is not accidental. While the provenance reveals to the recipient -- and others -- how and why the plate or box was created, it is also used as the basic building block by the purchaser and me to create a truly unique box that is focused toward the recipient alone.)

Refining the design generally becomes easier as its development progresses. In the end, the resulting design is constructed of elements which you have requested and decided upon and feel that best express the message you wish to impart to the recipient.

I have been designing and custom carving plates and boxes for many years. It has been my singular goal to "hit the mark" on each and every plate and box that I carve. In all the time I have been creating these unique commemoratives, no client or recipient has ever expressed anything but complete satisfaction with the finished product. This is not meant to be a boastful statement since the completed commemoratives express and evoke the emotions which the purchaser had desired from the very beginning, but did not necessarily know how to put into words.

Upon making the decisions regarding the selection of design elements, a price will be quoted. Prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and do not include shipping charges, which would be determined by destination and method of shipment and added to the final purchase price. (Pennsylvania residents must add 6% sales tax.) The form of payment is by check or money order (in U.S. dollars) made out to David W. Crothers and addressed to:

David W. Crothers
3866 Krugel Street
Hatboro, PA 19040

A deposit of 30% of the quoted price is due before work begins. The balance can then be paid at anytime, in any number of installments, as long as it is paid in full upon delivery.

Contact me with any questions you might have. Also indicate the most appropriate method for me to respond to your inquiry, e.g., e-mail, phone (with appropriate time of day) or surface mail -- as many clients do not want to spoil a surprise by my inadvertent contact with the ultimate recipient.