Fig. 31.—Large Plant Vase with Claw Foot.
The vase shown by [Fig. 30] is hexagonal in shape, the sides being 1 ft. 8 in. high by 1 ft. 2 in. wide at the top edge, and 1 ft. 0-½ in. at the base. The sides and bottom of both vases are connected as in [Figs. 21] and [22]. Five 1-in. holes are bored for drainage. The short feet having been secured with screws driven from the inside, the split rustic work is bradded on in the same order as that described for [Fig. 20].
The stands and vases should be given two coats of oil varnish, allowing the first coat to dry before applying the second.
Fig. 32.—Foot of Rustic Table.
A big plant vase made from half a paraffin cask is illustrated by [Fig. 31]. An ordinary 40-gal. cask stands, roughly, some 3 ft. high, has a diameter of some 2 ft., and is made of good stout oak. Sawn through the middle, the paraffin barrel makes two admirable tubs. One such half is shown in [Fig. 31]. This it is proposed to render suitable for some large bushy plant, so it will have to be mounted on legs. The legs shown are simply so many pieces cut from rough branches. From a heap of stuff one can generally choose pieces sufficiently adapted to the purpose, though their exact contours will, of course, vary. Oak branches, technically known as "bangles," from which the bark has been taken to make tan, will do well; or if the bark is liked, apple-tree or elm boughs will be suitable. That these sticks should be rough and gnarled and knotted adds to their effect. As the tub will be only partly covered with rustic mosaic work, it will be well before nailing anything upon it to paint it. A good dark brown or chocolate will go well with the natural bark. The rustic pieces will have to be cut through with the saw, the lengths being too great to be safely split with the hatchet—that is, with the exception of those round the lip, which are of thicker rod than the zig-zags; say, 1½ in. as compared with 1 in. In the zig-zags the light central strip is supposed to be of peeled withy, the darker ones on each side having the bark on, and being probably of hazel. Generally speaking, wrought brads are to be recommended for fixing rustic mosaic, but where, as in the present case, the strips have to be bent over a curved surface, small wire nails will be found more secure. Groups of fir cones, as shown, will prettily ornament the triangular spaces.
A style of foot suitable for a one-leg flower stand or table is illustrated in plan and part section by [Fig. 32].